Bodies of Light is a deeply poignant tale of a psychologically tumultuous nineteenth century upbringing set in the atmospheric world of Pre-Raphaelitism and the early suffrage movement.
Ally (older sister of May in Night Waking), is intelligent, studious and engaged in an eternal - and losing - battle to gain her mother's approval and affection. Her mother, Elizabeth, is a religious zealot, keener on feeding the poor and saving prostitutes than on embracing the challenges of motherhood. Even when Ally wins a scholarship and is accepted as one of the first female students to read medicine in London, it still doesn't seem good enough.
The first in a two-book sequence, Bodies of Light will propel Sarah Moss into the upper echelons of British novelists. It is a triumphant piece of historical fiction and a profoundly moving master class in characterisation.
Reviews:
'A powerful polemic... The writing is concise and powerful; colour coming from Moss's language. The story ends with you wanting more' - Independent on Sunday
'Thought-provoking and illuminating... this meticulously researched novel offers an intriguing portrait of Victorian society' - Daily Mail
'This is an exciting moment in Sarah Moss's career. Her third novel confirms the richness of her concerns and it sharpens our sense of her steely, no-nonsense voice. Historical detail is vividly and feelingly done. Moss produces well-crafted, deeply researched, hard-working novels about hard-working women' - Guardian
'A poignant, well-written tale of a woman's attempts to escape the powerful chains of family' - Sunday Times
'Wise and tender⦠Moss's style is measured and refined. A very accomplished piece of work' - Financial Times
'The award-winning author of Night Waking is back with an historical novel' - Diva
'What begins as a novel pinned on feminist history is actually a tale that holds up a mirror to the female psyche. Moss pays attention to her history, but it is this human message - that principles along are not enough - which resonates with the reader' - The Times
'A wonderful book... Bodies of Light is not just well-researched and beautifully written, it succeeds in capturing the real nuances of being a woman doctor, now as then. This is no small achievement' - Gabriel Weston, The Lancet320 pages
Publisher: Granta Books (3 April 2014)