The Mad Women’s Ball
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Narrated by:
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Kristin Atherton
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By:
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Victoria Mas
About this listen
The Salpêtrière Asylum: Paris, 1885. Dr. Charcot holds all of Paris in thrall with his displays of hypnotism on women who have been deemed mad and cast out from society. But the truth is much more complicated - these women are often simply inconvenient, unwanted wives, those who have lost something precious, wayward daughters, or girls born from adulterous relationships.
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 Salpêtrière dressed up in their finery for one night only. For the women themselves, it is a rare moment of hope.
Geneviève is a senior nurse. After the childhood death of her sister, Blandine, she shunned religion and placed her faith in both the celebrated psychiatrist Dr. Charcot and science. But everything begins to change when she meets Eugénie, the 19-year-old daughter of a bourgeois family that has locked her away in the asylum.
Because Eugénie has a secret: She sees spirits. Inspired by the scandalous, banned work that all of Paris is talking about, The Book of Spirits, Eugénie is determined to escape from the asylum - and the bonds of her gender - and seek out those who will believe in her. And for that she will need Geneviève's help.
©2021 Victoria Mas. Original French edition © 2019 Éditions Albin Michel, Paris. English translation © Frank Wynne. Published in 2021 by the Overlook Press, an imprint of ABRAMS, New York. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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When concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant’s father dies, he leaves to her the care of a patient at Hurstwell Asylum. Vivienne had no idea the woman existed, and yet her portrait is shockingly familiar. When the asylum claims she was never a patient there, Vivienne is compelled to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams.
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New favorite!!!
- By Lisa Scott on 12-13-22
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The Heiress
- The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh
- By: Molly Greeley
- Narrated by: Ell Potter
- Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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As a fussy baby, Anne de Bourgh was prescribed laudanum to quiet her, and now the young woman must take the opium-heavy tincture every day. Growing up sheltered and confined, removed from sunshine and fresh air, the pale and overly slender Anne grew up with few companions except her cousins, including Fitzwilliam Darcy. Throughout their childhoods, it was understood that Darcy and Anne would marry and combine their vast estates of Pemberley and Rosings. But Darcy does not love Anne or want her.
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A beautiful work of historical fiction
- By Alex M on 02-21-21
By: Molly Greeley
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The Bermondsey Bookshop
- By: Mary Gibson
- Narrated by: Anne Dover
- Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Set in 1920s London, this is the inspiring story of Kate Goss' struggle against poverty, hunger and cruel family secrets. Her mother died in a fall, her father has vanished without trace, and now her aunt and cousins treat her viciously. In a freezing, vermin-infested garret, factory girl Kate has only her own brave spirit and dreams of finding her father to keep her going. She has barely enough money to feed herself, or to pay the rent. The factory where she works begins to lay off people and it isn't long before she has fallen into the hands of the violent local money-lender.
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A glimpse into the past
- By Luci-Lu on 10-27-21
By: Mary Gibson
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Domina
- By: Barbara Wood
- Narrated by: Marion Castle
- Length: 20 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Beautiful and courageous, Samantha Hargrave dares to dream that she will become one of the first female doctors - and surgeons - in America. Born in the slums of London and possessing a special gift for healing, Samantha struggles to enter the all-male medical profession. When her ambition encounters hostile rejection in England, she sails to America, where she meets an eccentric doctor who takes her on as an apprentice.
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Really bad.
- By Anonymous User on 12-29-17
By: Barbara Wood
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The Dead Travel Fast
- By: Deanna Raybourn
- Narrated by: Charlotte Parry
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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With a modest inheritance and the three gowns that comprise her entire wardrobe, Theodora leaves Edinburgh—and a disappointed suitor—far behind. She is bound for Romania, where tales of vampires are still whispered, to visit an old friend and write the book that will bring her true independence. She arrives at a magnificent, decaying castle in the Carpathians, replete with eccentric inhabitants, including the castle’s master, Count Andrei Dragulescu.
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Process vs getting their
- By Aryn on 04-29-11
By: Deanna Raybourn
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The Luxe
- By: Anna Godbersen
- Narrated by: Nina Siemaszko
- Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future. With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love.
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Good story, but. . .
- By Shellra on 05-17-09
By: Anna Godbersen
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The Traitor
- By: V.S. Alexander
- Narrated by: Christa Lewis
- Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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In the summer of 1942, as war rages across Europe, a series of anonymous leaflets appears around the University of Munich, speaking out against escalating Nazi atrocities. The leaflets are hidden in public places, or mailed to addresses selected at random from the phone book. Natalya Petrovich, a student, knows who is behind the leaflets - a secret group called the White Rose, led by siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl and their friends. As a volunteer nurse on the Russian front, Natalya witnessed the horrors of war first-hand. She willingly enters the White Rose's circle....
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Not all the Germans are guilty.
- By Judy Harley on 09-18-20
By: V.S. Alexander
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Love Practically
- The Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir, Book 1
- By: Nichole Van
- Narrated by: Mhairi Morrison
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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As a young woman, Leah Penn-Leith fell hopelessly in love with Captain Fox Carnegie—the only irrational mark on her decidedly sensible life. Fox, unfortunately, did not return her regard. Their story should have ended there—Fox left for India and Leah returned home to Scotland to rear her much younger brothers. Twenty years later, Fox appears on Leah's doorstep—older, scarred, and world-weary—proposing a marriage of convenience between them.
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Great book!
- By Love2Read on 11-30-22
By: Nichole Van
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The Forgotten Room
- By: Karen White, Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig
- Narrated by: Morgan Hallett, Susan Bennett
- Length: 13 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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It's 1945: When the critically wounded Captain Cooper Ravenal is brought to a private hospital on Manhattan's Upper East Side, young Dr. Kate Schuyler is drawn into a complex mystery that connects three generations of women in her family to a single extraordinary room in a Gilded Age mansion. Who is the woman in Captain Ravenel's portrait miniature who looks so much like Kate? And why is she wearing the ruby pendant handed down to Kate by her mother?
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The same story 3 times over...
- By Amazon Customer on 03-30-16
By: Karen White, and others
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The Chocolate Maker's Wife
- By: Karen Brooks
- Narrated by: Willow Nash
- Length: 20 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Born into poverty, brutalised and ignored by her family, it is only when she is married off to a nobleman that her life undergoes a transformation, as her husband recognises in Rosamund a magic she does not know she possesses but which affects almost all who encounter her. Presiding over a luxurious chocolate house where men go to be seen, exchange news and indulge in the sweet and heady drink to which they have become addicted, Rosamund feels blessed. But disaster strikes, and Rosamund stands on the brink of losing all she has worked so hard to achieve.
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Loved the history....
- By Kim Tyler on 01-20-20
By: Karen Brooks
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Murder at Morrington Hall
- A Stella and Lyndy Mystery, Book 1
- By: Clara McKenna
- Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Spring, 1905: Free-spirited like the Thoroughbreds she rides across the Kentucky countryside, Stella takes adventure by the reins when she's asked to attend a mysterious wedding in rural England. But once she arrives at the lush Morrington Hall estate, her cold and ambitious father confesses that he won't only give away his best racehorses as gifts - he has also arranged to give away his daughter as bride to the Earl of Atherly's financially strapped son. Stella refuses to be sold off like a prized pony. Yet despite a rough start, there's something intriguing about her groom-to-be.
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DNF & Returned
- By Allison on 06-19-19
By: Clara McKenna
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The Best of Intentions
- Canadian Crossings Series, Book 1
- By: Susan Anne Mason
- Narrated by: Susan Boyce
- Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In the aftermath of WWI, Grace Abernathy is determined to reunite with her family, crossing an ocean to convince her widowed sister to return home to England. But Toronto holds more tragedy and her nephew, Christian, is now in the custody of his paternal relatives, the formidable Easton family, who rejected Grace's sister because of her low social status. Unconvinced that the Eastons can be fitting caretakers, Grace jumps at the chance to become Christian's nanny and to observe the family up close. But she is shocked to discover herself falling for Andrew Easton, the boy's guardian.
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Touching post WWI Family Drama
- By A+D on 07-14-18
By: Susan Anne Mason
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What listeners say about The Mad Women’s Ball
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- JB
- 01-11-22
Great book, but..,
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. However, the different voices for different characters was almost cringe worthy. At first this was a huge distraction and I considered not finishing. I’m glad I did, but that is something readers might have to work through.
**No specific details, but a potential spoiler ahead**
The primary issue I had was the lack of closure for a traumatic event for one of the characters at the end of the book. It was essentially dismissed after the fact and it felt wrong. The event is undoubtedly one that very often goes without closure in the real world, so I understand that, but considering this character’s story, it would have been wonderful to have them treated to better a ending.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Lindsey
- 05-31-22
Very Enjoyable
I picked this book on a whim and I’m very glad I did. The story itself is relatively simple, though I don’t think that’s a bad thing, and I thoroughly enjoyed the character study of Genevieve.
Be aware however that this story does contain two scenes briefly depicting rape.
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- Maxeik
- 09-19-21
Beautiful!
I loved this book. Beautifully written and narrated. I enjoyed it very much. Great work.
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- HikerGatherer
- 06-22-22
Great Performance; Story Feels Unfinished
The reader of this audiobook did an excellent job voicing different characters and acting out scenes with urgency in her tone. The story is well-written, but feels unfinished, like it’s merely the first section of a longer work.
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- unco
- 11-25-22
Delightful though predictable.
Spoiler Alert: There was a lot to recommend about this book. The story however was over for me when the grandmother betrayed Eugenie. From that moment it progressed with predictability. It was well written and it was narrated brilliantly but I wish there had been more of a surprise outcome.
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- Bookish One
- 09-27-24
Loved this story
Well-written story with relatable characters and lots of great details. I only wish it was longer. Can't wait to read more from this author!
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- Just Chris
- 11-27-21
Moving performance
This is a gorgeous listen. Unexpected sisterhood and a search for peace despite the hopelessness of the situation these women find themselves in. Kristin Atherton's pacing & care easily lend to the beauty, hope, and despair in these voices.
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- DBC
- 02-11-22
Amazing Narration
Loved it! The Narrator did an excellent job with distinguishing accents and character voices. Great job! 👍
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- Scentart
- 12-10-21
SO much richer than the Netflix film
As usual, there were more characters than the film. It is heartbreakingly prescient to see where women are headed in these prefascist times. This novella illustrates the misogyny that I am assuming is hard wired in the human consciousness.
Great story. If you ever are in Paris, go visit L'hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière. It was described perfectly. The ghosts are still there.
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- Matthew Everett
- 02-06-22
Disturbing
This was a recommendation from a YouTube website. Though I found it disturbing, deep within, that maybe where its quality lay. Its hard to believe that something like this was common during this period in time, I think I would have enjoyed some book that was not so down.
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