Men and women have always been governed by different ‘rules’, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Women exist in relation to men, as mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters. An unspoken code of conduct determines how we can behave and be. In our society, patriarchy weighs heavily on women who still find themselves to be the second sex in almost every sphere of life. ‘The Mad Women’s Ball’ by Victoria Mas explores how women are oppressed and deemed ‘mad’ if and when they don’t fit into societal ideals. I think we should all read this book to understand what our society has done and still does to strong-willed women, and how women are considered misfits if they aren’t subservient. The book is based on events in 19th-century Paris—the atrocities women endured in the Salpêtrière 200 years ago where voyeurism was often masked as medical treatment. The critically acclaimed French historical fiction novel narrates the mistreatment and dehumanization of women considered ‘mad’ and confined within a women’s asylum. The Salpêtrière is a dumping ground of sorts for women ‘who disturb the peace’, for those who have an opinion, or those who don’t fit into the molds crafted by men.

Eugénie Cléry is a young woman with a mind of her own. She’s courageous, witty, and outspoken. This doesn’t sit well with her father who believes it’s not appropriate for women to be vocal and extroverted. Then the 17-year-old tells her grandmother, whom she loves dearly and believes is loved equally in return, that she can talk to ghosts. She even helps her grandmother find a necklace that the old lady had presumed was lost with the help of her grandfather.

But Eugénie is tricked and then dragged to the Salpêtrière by her father. Her brother Théophile accompanies his father but doesn’t want his sister to be confined at the asylum. However, he’s unable to speak up and save her. At the Salpêtrière, Geneviéve, a matron, soon realizes Eugénie shouldn’t be there. Though initially skeptical of her gifts, the matron believes in Eugénie after she delivers a message from Geneviéve’s dead sister, Blandine, that ends up being true.  From there on, the matron wonders if Professor Charcot, the doctor who claims to only lock the ‘genuine hysterics’ at the asylum, is in fact as noble as he appears to be. She also comes up with a plan to free Eugénie. The Mad Women’s Ball reads like a thriller though the message it conveys is profound. Your heart aches for the characters, many of whom have been betrayed and exploited by men they have trusted. Despite the supernatural aspect of the story, it’s a book that will urge people to stand up for what’s right and try to give others the benefit of doubt, rather than judging and mocking what we can’t understand. Three and a half stars Fiction The Mad Women’s Ball Victoria Mas Translated from the French by Frank Wynne Published: 2019 Publisher: Transworld Publishers Pages: 210, Paperback