The Warlow Experiment
Published on 1. July 2020
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-78816-170-1 (ISBN)
Description
A Sunday Times fiction book of the year
'She is an original, with a virtuoso touch' - Hilary Mantel
'An extraordinary, quite brilliant book' - C. J. Sansom
'A powerful and unsettling novel' - Andrew Taylor
The year is 1793 and Herbert Powyss is set on making his name as a scientist. Determined to study the effects of prolonged solitude on another human being, he advertises for someone willing to live in his cellar for seven years in return for a generous financial reward. The only man to apply is John Warlow, a semi-literate farm labourer with a wife and six children to support. Cut off from nature, Warlow soon begins losing his grip on sanity while, above ground, Powyss rapidly becomes obsessed with Warlow's wife, Hannah.
The experiment, a classic Enlightenment exercise gone more than a little mad, will have unforeseen consequences for all included. In this seductive tale of self-delusion and obsession, Alix Nathan has created an utterly transporting historical novel which is both elegant and unforgettably sinister.
One of 2019's most high-profile hardback publications, now out in paperback.
Featured on Radio Four's Book at Bedtime
BBC History Magazine Best Historical Fiction of 2019
'She is an original, with a virtuoso touch' - Hilary Mantel
'An extraordinary, quite brilliant book' - C. J. Sansom
'A powerful and unsettling novel' - Andrew Taylor
The year is 1793 and Herbert Powyss is set on making his name as a scientist. Determined to study the effects of prolonged solitude on another human being, he advertises for someone willing to live in his cellar for seven years in return for a generous financial reward. The only man to apply is John Warlow, a semi-literate farm labourer with a wife and six children to support. Cut off from nature, Warlow soon begins losing his grip on sanity while, above ground, Powyss rapidly becomes obsessed with Warlow's wife, Hannah.
The experiment, a classic Enlightenment exercise gone more than a little mad, will have unforeseen consequences for all included. In this seductive tale of self-delusion and obsession, Alix Nathan has created an utterly transporting historical novel which is both elegant and unforgettably sinister.
One of 2019's most high-profile hardback publications, now out in paperback.
Featured on Radio Four's Book at Bedtime
BBC History Magazine Best Historical Fiction of 2019
Reviews / Votes
Praise for Alix Nathan:'The best kind of historical fiction ... She is an original, with a virtuoso touch.' -- Hilary Mantel This is an extraordinary, quite brilliant book * CJ Sansom * A powerful and unsettling novel, both fascinating and infinitely strange -- Andrew Taylor Unusual, gripping and emotionally complex - I loved this book. -- Sally Magnusson, author of The Sealwoman's Gift Original and beautifully written, this is a meaty, gripping novel of obsession gone sour. * The Daily Mail * A darkly compelling read -- The Herald Can't recommend it highly enough. A magnificent read ... the complexity of character and the interweaving of the political upheaval in England at the time worked so well for me. -- Philip Ardagh
More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Profile Books Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 201 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
255 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78816-170-1 (9781788161701)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Alix Nathan read English and Music at York University. She lives in the Welsh Marches where she owns some ancient woodland with her husband. Her short stories have been published in Ambit, The London Magazine and New Welsh Review and read on BBC Radio 4.