The beauty of this book is the "matter of fact" way it goes about discussing the misdiagnoses of patients (women patients), the way a woman's voice was nonexistent, or the threat of hysteria followed by being thrown in a sanatorium is enough of a punch to the gut. Why? Because this wasn't all that long ago. Women were subjected to what male felt was warranted. They had no opinions, no right to decide what they wished to do with their lives, let alone if and who they married. Or better yet, the fear of disgracing the family name being more worrisome than a young woman begging her father not to throw her away simply because she may be different.

This book was both mind gripping and appalling for the amount of disrespect and shame that went towards women. I found the book fascinating and also scary in the same respect of what I said before - this wasn't all that long ago. This was how women were treated - whether they were mentally disabled or not. It never mattered to begin with.

Definitely a good read. There is some serious subject content (i.e., rape, incest, attempted murder, child rape, victim shaming...) in this in regards to the travesties that women were subjected to. While intense, this story shows the different sides of each (mad)woman and her “supposed” illness as well as those that are ill brought on by trauma.

My Rating: 4 stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A fascinating glimpse into a unique snapshot of history, and an intimate portrait of two women struggling through a period of both heartbreaking and triumphant transition. This was thoroughly entertaining in the traditional sense, and yet it's also very thought-provoking (without any sign of preachiness), and even a bit fear inducing. I loved this beautiful portrait of these haunted women. **Thank you so so much to both NetGalley and Overlook Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!**

The Lowdown: The Salpetriere is an infamous Parisian institution, a hostpital/asylum that finds itself in the more (supposedly) enlightened Victorian Era now being run by a doctor who's public lectures featuring madwomen has made him (and the hospital) famous for his new ideas on curing the mental illnesses of women. Of course the hospital is mostly just a place where women who have become troublesome or unwanted are handed of by the men in their life to never be heard from again.

Genevieve is a longtime nurse of the hospital, a stoic figure who's scientific bendings have led her to study medicine and view her wards as simple sickly patients who require treatment as with any other illness. Any warm and fuzzy proclivities she may have had once, disappeared when her younger sister died of tuberculosis at age 16. Eugenie is the daughter of a well to do banker, and has grown up in a rigid environment where women are meant to be seen and not heard. There's just one problem, Eugenie can see ghosts. Just as she's beginning to think she has found a way for herself in this life, her secret is revealed and her father dumps her at the Salpetriere, washing his hands of her for good.

The two women's stories intersect (along with some other characters, both good and bad, from the asylum) and come to a head at the grand event of the season - the annual Ball where the creme de la creme of society come to spend an evening dancing and socializing with the "mad women" of the Salpetriere dressed as Gypsies, Harlequins, Witches and more.

This is a heartbreaking look at what has happened to "unwanted" women for many hundreds of years...and yet some find peace within it's walls, while others struggle to break free, dreaming of doctors and other men who can save them and carry them away. The subplot of Eugenie's ability to see ghosts was particularly intriguing and added another dimension to the story. Parts of it were uncomfortable for me to read, no matter how much I tell myself we live in a different time, in a different world, its still scary how easy it was for men to toss these girls and women in and throw away the key. It's scary how little power they had over their own lives and that is definitely fear inducing to me. However there were also beautiful and poignant moments of sacrifice, success, resilience and hope amongst it all.

With a mixture of literary, gothic, and historical vibes this is a must read fans of any of those genres.

This book is an artful blend of historical fiction and the supernatural.

What I found to be more chilling than a young woman who can see dead people, is the betrayal that so many women suffered during this time period when family and friends would commit them to asylums as a means of control.

I loved the writing, I felt deeply for the female characters, and I really enjoyed the story. It opened my eyes to how far society has come relating to women’s rights.

A thoroughly informative read that explores the mental asylums that women were sent to in the past. This book shined a light on the cruelties of men and society when dealing with women. Genevieve's journey allowed for the reader to see various aspects of this horrible places and the treatment of women.

The Mad Women’s Ball is a historical fiction novel set at the famous Salpetriere hospital in 1885. Dr. Charcot, now considered the father of French neurology, was renowned in his time for his treatment of hysteria as a neurological disease at the hospital. During his teaching, he would hypnotize patients and show off the physical manifestations of their hysteria to large groups of medical students..

The book’s title is the nickname of the Lenten Ball, when the hospital would open its doors to parade hysterical patients to the upper class. During the weeks before the ball, the patients’ normally boring schedule is replaced by time to design and sew their costumes for the ball, unaware that they were considered part of a freak show.

The ball preparation coincides with the admission of young Eugenie, who communicates with spirits. The normally stern and distant ward nurse Genevieve is shaken by the new patient and reexamines everything she has believed during her life. Since most people do not believe in spirits, does that mean anyone who does is insane? Are there hysterical people who should be released into society, or should their hospitalization be a life sentence? Does one conversation or one action justify hospitalizing someone for hysteria?

The Mad Women’s Ball succeeds in many ways. The novel captures the stark, yet sometimes comforting, experiences of women in Salpetriere. Mas compassionately brings her characters to life so that readers can identify with them, even though they are the throwaways of the book. Mas makes us care about them. She immerses her reader in this world and brutally exposes the injustices toward the mentally ill, particularly women. It was easy to curl up in a chair and ignore the rest of the world for a few hours to stay in her story.

If you enjoy historical fiction that transports you to a different time and circumstances, then check out The Mad Women’s Ball.

This weird little book is one of my favorite of the year and it's not going to be for everyone and I think that's fine. Eugenie and her interest in Spiritualism have led her to the Asylum and it will soon open a wold of secrets of so many of the women who have been held captive.

This is a fascinating story that is sadly based on truth.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

REVIEW:
The Mad Women’s Ball, Victoria Mas

‘The Salpetriere is a dumping ground for women who disturb the peace. An asylum for those whose sensitivities do not tally with what is expected of them. A prison for women guilty of possessing an opinion’

>Grieving the loss of your child?- LOCKED UP!
>Mad that your husband is cheating on you? LOCKED UP!
>Hold a different opinion then the men in your family? LOCKED UP!
>Sexually abused and experiencing trauma? LOCKED UP!
>Push your pimp off a bridge because he’s shacking up with another of his girls? LOCKED UP! (Ok, well murder IS wrong..)
<Look at someone the wrong way? LOCKED UP! (I took creative liberties on this one, though I doubt I’m too far off-base)

Real talk: I ALSO would’ve been locked up had I been alive in 1800s France (not for the murder thing, obv, but I AM MOUTHY!)- anyone else?

Victoria Mas did a wonderful job bringing us into the disturbing and chilling atmosphere that is the Salpetriere- where women of all ages and classes were brought to be committed by their own families, when those families deemed them inconvenient or threatening.

Eugenie Clery can see ghosts- crazy, right? Wrong- tut tut! Eugenie has seen these spirits since she was 12, the first being her paternal grandfather who had passed away. She stumbles upon a banned book that reveals what she is experiencing is NOT madness. Regardless- it wouldn’t be a story if Eugenie hadn’t ended up being dragged and left at the Salpetriere by her father and brother. Knowing she full well is not mad, Eugenie knows her only hope to escape is through Genevieve- the head nurse of the asylum. She is a lifelong and dedicated believer of the work the Salpetriere does, but will she push all of her beliefs aside and believe that Eugenie is sane and help her to escape?

This was real, raw and thrilling- to say the least. I cannot imagine having no control over my thoughts and feelings, and the terror of being locked away if I dared to speak my mind. My biggest complaint was that this wasn’t long enough, I could’ve handled another 100-150 pages to bring more depth and development to the characters. I did find the ending abrupt, even with the epilogue and found myself wanting. Overall- a very enthralling gothic, historical novel that I didn’t want to put down!

This book was an interesting story that showed the injustice many women suffered at the hands of science and the rule of men in 19th century France.

Paris, France 1885 La Salpêtrière, or better known as an asylum, is the setting for this frightening true historical fiction story. This is where the “mad women” of the late 19th century were sent for treatment by doctors who basically used them as research. This story follows a nurse who has been with the hospital for years and a young girl who is admitted by her family.

I enjoyed this book, the fact that it is based of true life events is truly shocking. However, I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a little longer. I would have liked to see more background of the characters or even more about the research the male doctors were performing. There were many characters that seemed to have an interesting story, but I felt it was rushed and not well developed. The Mad Women’s Ball itself was just a very quick part of the book and I thought there would be more detail about it.

Overall I enjoyed the writing and the subject that it approached.

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for an advanced copy for review.

Happy #publicationday to The Mad Women’s Ball by Victoria Mas!

At only 224 pages, this one is a quick read. In Paris, 1885, Dr. Charcot is renown for his displays of hypnotism on the women of the Salpetriere Asylum. Many of the women at the institution were sent as a quick and simple way to get rid of an inconvenience or a problem. The Madwomen’s ball is the one chance for these women to dress up and interact with the world outside the asylum.

The story follows Genevieve, the senior nurse at the asylum and Eugenie, a new patient with the gift of communicating with spirits. Then there is Louise, sent to the asylum after being raped by her uncle and suffering a seizure. Therese, another patient, is an elderly woman sent away to be rid of her by her abusive husband.

The Madwomen’s Ball explores themes of oppression and the consequences of not aligning with the expectations of family and society. It’s a fascinating, feminist read worth picking up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Abrams for the review copy.

This book is as infuriating as it is fascinating. Set during a time when women who gave anyone trouble or stuck up for themselves were deemed mad and therefore institutionalized. When a 19 year old woman is sent there she offers hope to the other women. This book gives a look at how twisted things used to be for women in the 19th century. Excellent writing that makes this book impossible to put down makes it one of the best books this year in my opinion.

Set in Paris toward the end of the 19th century, THE MAD WOMEN'S BALL by Victoria Mas is a novel that grabs you by the throat and does not let go. In a time when an inconvenient woman can be deemed "mad" and sent to an institution such as Salpêtrière for reasons as petty as speaking one's mind or as threatening as owning something a man wants, a senior nurse with many years of experience with deep admiration for the charismatic head doctor is confronted with her own demons and severely constrained life when a young patient challenges all she ever believed to be true, reliable, and good in the world. I could not stop reading this story from the first pages: it is that compelling, well-written, and inspired. Mas' genius in using the annual Lenten "Mad Women's Ball" when patients dress up in ballgowns and finery as a defining moment highlights the terrible cruelty and blatant inhumanity masquerading as science and good intentions. It is a memorable, terrific read that will long reverberate for me -- I look forward to discussing it with others. I received an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my unbiased review.

Salpetriere hospital in France, where women deemed mad are taken by their husbands, fathers, and others, holds a ball annually where the high society can come and view these "mad women" up close.

But Eugenie does not believe she is crazy. There are those Salpetriere who have seizures or fall into hysterics, but all Eugenie did was confess to her grandmother that her grandfather told her where to find a necklace they had thought stolen long ago. Granted, her grandfather died years before, but how else could anyone explain how she found the necklace?

Genevieve is the head nurse who meets with Eugenie's father who has signed her over to the care of the hospital. At first, she does not have an opinion one way or the other about Eugenie, but then Eugenie tells Genevieve something that strikes a nerve, and she puts Eugenie in solitary.

But Eugenie eventually gets Genevieve to allow her, if not belief, then a little consideration, and soon things are set in motion that will change the lives of these women.

A disturbing, fantastic tale with scathing commentary on the things that were not only accepted, but were societal norms.

I enjoyed the story, inasmuch one can enjoy something so devastating, but there were moments of hope that redeemed the story from being just too dark.

Mad Women’s Ball, Victoria Mas
Pub Date: Sept 7/21

Set in Paris 1885 at the Salpetriere Asylum, The Mad Women’s Ball is a literary historical gothic novel that vividly captures the “horrors faced by institutionalized women in 19th century Paris.” Translated from French and winner of multiple literary awards,

In this gothic retelling, Mas brings forth historical characters such as then celebrated doctor and hypnotist, Dr Charcot while referencing women cast out of society and committed due to claims of lunacy. Yet the truth was far more complicated and the asylum quickly became a convenient way to dismiss, detain and and do-away with women whose opinions, mannerisms and personalities were “off-putting” “unconventional” and unwanted. Except for one day that is. The asylum’s annual Lenten Ball or Mad Women’s Ball where they were dressed in finery and displayed for the amusement of Parisian bourgeoisie. It also highlighted the consequences of wayward wives and fanciful femmes, reinforcing status quo at the expense of the Salpetriere’s residents while extinguishing any residual hope of escape.

Mas captured the grim and gothic history while illuminating it’s atmosphere of contempt and helplessness. Characters Genevieve, Senior nurse to the revered Dr Charcot, and Eugenie, daughter of a bourgeois family, are rich and engaging.

Genevieve, strict, rigid and devoted to science, mourns the death of her sister. Eugenie, curious and precocious with a rebellious spirit, whose secret of talking with the dead lands her at the asylum, abandoned by her family.

Their fate intersects causing a chain of events that will irrevocably change each other. For in order for either to be truly free, they must place their trust in the other's hands.

look for Mas’s Mad Women’s Ball to be brought to life in film by Amazon Studios.

I enjoyed this fast paced and short novel but can’t help feeling that the novel would have been enriched by a more robust plot-line. One that exposed more of the inner workings of the institution, the juxtaposition of science vs spirits, and sought to dig deeper into Genevieve and Eugenies characters, adversity and mutual gifts. Eugenie’s abilities to confer with the dead and Genevieve’s critical reflection and ethical and moral dilemmas that are entangled by state, church and femme proper. I really liked it, I just wanted more. Such as a second installment, so I can know what happens next!
I am hopeful that with a film adaptation in the works that Mas will be able to expand on the story and flush out these pieces. I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

My thanks to NetGalley, Abrams and The Overlook Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book provided good entertainment but seems like the author needs to do more research on the topics she writes about. Corsets we’re not a “tool of oppression”! They were supportive undergarments and tightlacing was actually not a common practice!

On the heels of the Texas law, this was a read that further infuriates but also invigorates the soul. Women are wrongly accused of being in mentally unstable for a multitude of awful reasons and forgotten in a Parisian mental institution. There is definitely a lot of character development that inspires hope for women. A sort of female one flew over the cuckoo’s nest, it revolves around a cast of characters that are very different and all inspire different types of sympathy. It was a very fast read that had one clear plot and each characters sorry is tragically revealed. Be prepared to feel both angry and triumphant while reading.

This is an important book as it talks about how women were susceptible to institutionalization if they didn't confirm to social norms. Hysteria was often diagnosed and lots of women spent their life in aslyums.
This is also an excellent historical fiction with a pinch of paranormal. Heartbreaking at times but with the hope of new beginnings.
The author delivers an thought provoking, sometimes disturbing and engrossing story.
Good character development and storytelling, a well researched historical background.
Even if I liked it it's quite slow and sometimes I struggled.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

In 1885, the women of Paris are in danger. Not from unknown murderers. No, from their own husbands and fathers. For women who refuse to follow the restrictive culture of marriage, babies, and staying quiet, the Salpetriere asylum beckons. Some may truly be mentally ill. But most are just inconvenient. Once committed, the chance of freedom is limited to once per year. At The Madwomen’s Ball, where the beau mode meet the mad.

Louise first joined the Salpetriere at age 13. Her crime? Being assaulted by the uncle who took her in after her parents’ deaths.

Therese is a patient with a past. But in the asylum, where she has lived for over twenty years, she is like a house mother to the other, younger, patients. She is also the Tricoteuse, who knits shawls for the other patients.

Genevieve is the head of the nurses. She has been working at the asylum for over twenty years. During that she has lost her empathy for the patients. Her only love is her long ago deceased younger sister, Blandine. She has no man or children of her own.

Eugenie is the only daughter of a well-off family. She sees dead people, who speak to her. When she confides that fact to a loved one, she too is sent to Salpetriere.

The Madwomen’s Ball is an interesting merging of a real setting with fictional characters. Those characters are compelling. While reading, I wanted them all to achieve their dreams even while logically assuming that most would not. There is definitely a feeling of melancholia pervading the book. The language is languorous, which reflects the slower pace of both the time and place. Kudos to the translator who left just enough French to feel authentic—but not confusing to English readers.

Despite the slow pacing of literary fiction, this book should also appeal to thriller readers. Eugenie’s story is the main focus of the plot. Can she, who is clearly sane, get free of the asylum? It is similar to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest set in a different time and culture. It also has themes of feminism and spiritualism that resonant long after the last page is turned. 5 stars!

Thank you to The Overlook Press for providing the advanced review copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This story managed to be both absolutely devastating and a hopeful read. The stories of the different women at the asylum were complex and terrible, while the community they had formed in this place managed to still be one of almost joy. The supernatural aspects of the story were the most boring, but still necessary for both Eugenie's and Genevieve's stories. Eugenie's relationship with her family was really captivating and Genevieve's character arc was really interesting. The patients in this story were nothing more than props for the men around them to use and gawk at, but they didn't value themselves any less for it. This was a story about women, by a woman, and for women.

Let's face it, women basically got locked away in an asylum for not complying with the constraints of society. "Hysteria" was considered a real illness. These women are often simply inconvenient, unwanted wives, those who have lost something precious, wayward daughters, or girls born from adulterous relationships. All of Paris is in thrall to Dr. Charcot, who's displays of hypnotism seem like a real cure. For Parisian society, the highlight of the year is the Lenten ball—the Madwomen’s Ball—when the great and good come to gawk at the patients of the asylum dressed up in their finery for one night only. For the women themselves, it is a rare moment of hope. Genevieve is a senior nurse who puts her faith in Dr. Charcot and science. Everything begins to change for her when she meets, Eugenie, a 19 year-old, who sees spirits. Eugenie is determined to escape the asylum (and the constraints of her gender) but she'll need Genevieve's help. This book was so good it's going to be a movie!! I can't wait to see this poignant novel brought to life.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early e-arc of this novel.*

The Mad Women’s Ball

Thank you to NetGalley, Abrams Books and The Overlook Press for sending me an ARC of The Mad Women’s Ball, in exchange for my honest opinion of the novel. I think I must first say Tres Magnifique to the author Victoria Mass! I found this story to be fascinating, heart-breaking, hopeless and terrifying. The misogyny of Paris in 1885 was threaded throughout the book and was brought to life through the descriptions shared by protagonist Eugenie Clery. Mademoiselle Eugenie expressed this idea as she was hurrying through the streets of Paris, “As if intellectual constraints were not sufficient, women had to be hobbled physically (a corset). One might almost think that, in imposing such restrictions, men did not so much scorn women as fear them.”

Although this novel is categorized as Historical fiction, there are many real aspects to the story, which the author footnotes throughout the story. In the 19th century, the Salpetriere was used as a “clinic for the hysterics;” an institution for mentally ill women, and only Women, some of whom had bipolar disease or schizophrenia, misdiagnosed at that time as “women that were mad.” Other patients were prostitutes, orphans, or victims – of rape, abuse or exploitation. Eugenie, a highborn girl from an established family was committed to the “Madhouse” by her father because of her rebellious ideas and a mystical gift, which she shared in confidence with her grandmother.

The climax of the story is “The Mad Women’s Ball,” which occurs once a year. It is an event that the patients (prisoners) look forward to, as Parisian society is invited to mingle and ogle the mysterious women in ballgowns at Salpetriere. This novel contains, heroes, villains, the misdiagnosed and the misunderstood, believers and non-believers and much more. 5 stars from me!