Synopsis

In post-WWII rural Warwickshire, Dr. Faraday, a man of humble origins who has achieved professional respectability, is summoned to Hundreds Hall, a once-grand Georgian estate now crumbling into disrepair. The ancestral home of the aristocratic Ayres family—mother, son, and daughter—it mirrors their own decline amidst a rapidly changing society. Faraday observes their struggles, both financial and psychological, as they cling to a fading way of life. However, he soon discerns that their predicament might be far more sinister than mere societal decay. An insidious presence seems to haunt the house, unsettling its inhabitants and blurring the lines between the supernatural and the psychological. As Faraday becomes increasingly entangled in the Ayres' world, his own story intertwines terrifyingly with theirs, forcing him to confront the dark secrets and unsettling truths lurking within the decaying walls of Hundreds Hall and the minds of its residents.

Critical Reception

"Heralded as a modern gothic masterpiece, the novel garnered widespread critical acclaim, cementing Sarah Waters' reputation for intricate historical fiction with a chilling psychological edge."

Adaptations

A major motion picture directed by Lenny Abrahamson and starring Domhnall Gleeson and Ruth Wilson.

Metadata

ISBN:9781101052549
Pages:488
Age Rating:16+

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