Rose Christie, a 26-year old Classics teacher, gets a job at Caldonbrae, an exclusive girls-only boarding school in a remote windswept coastal area of Scotland. Her excitement at this new challenge soon turns to dismay when she realizes that, at this elite establishment, not all is what it seems. The conservative mentality of the teachers and students is a culture shock for independent-minded Rose. However, this is just the start of her problems. There seem to be more sinister – and dangerous – secrets related to the departure of her predecessor. The more facts Rose uncovers, the greater her conviction that she should escape Caldonbrae. But considering the long-reaching tentacles of the institution, does she even have such a choice?

Phoebe Wynne’s debut novel is touted as a feminist Gothic work, with “shades of The Secret History”. This is what drew me to it in the first place, but I am sorry to say that I was quite disappointed, and it took some effort for me to complete the book. For a novel set in 1992, the facts described in the book are quite over-the-top (even though, admittedly, chauvinistic mentalities are still rampant thirty years later). So, perhaps, Madam is best approached as a fable or fantasy – not unlike the Dyachenko’s Vita Nostra, but with a more feminist slant and without the more abstruse fantastical elements. Even if one is fine with that, though, the story remains unconvincing and the dialogue and narrative style not particularly striking or original. The characters seem stilted and, for a feminist lead, Rose often comes across as rather pathetic. She spends most of the book going around asking questions and getting no answers – at one point, her students actually tell her “…stop asking us questions, it’s so frustrating” and it’s a feeling which, as a reader, I fully shared.

Despite my reservations I did find something to enjoy in the novel. The suffocating sense of dread was well brought out, the Gothic elements were suitably atmospheric and I liked the idea of the notes or summaries about women from Classical history and myth and the way their stories were worked into the tale. For fairness’ sake, I should also note that some reviewers have compared Phoebe Wynne to such luminaries as Naomi Alderman and Margaret Attwood. I must confess I’m less enthusiastic.

https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/2020/12/madam-by-phoebe-wynne.html ( )

Rose, who only has a few years teaching experience, finds she's been offered a position teaching Classics in an exclusive private girls boarding school that has a long and established history. Because of her youth and brief teaching history, she's surprised at the generous offer that provides an amazing salary and benefits that would make caring for her sick mother much easier. But she wonders about the circumstances that lead to the termination of her predecessor.

When she arrives at the school, she finds herself surrounded by students who are disinterested and only a few fellow teachers willing to assist her in learning the ropes. She learns that there are secrets that were kept out of the news including the death of a student. After a student files a complaint about her and later is found dead, she decides to go into the village for some respite, only to discover there are rules that restrict her leaving the school grounds.

As Rose learns more about the unorthodox practices used to control student behavior (shaving students' heads, and placing them in a "sanatorium"), she tries using her lessons in Greek Mythology in hopes the lessons will open her student's minds enough to question some of the school's rules and traditions.

As secrets are uncovered throughout the book, Rose discovers the principles and traditions of the school are a far cry from the norm, and in fact may have caused students to die.

While I found myself lost at times in the overly described interior of the school and confused as to how a school in the 1990's could possibly exist in the fashion outlined in the book, I found it entertaining and a nice change from what I typically read. ( )

If you want me to read a book, put a boarding school filled with girls in a creepy building and you have my instant attention. Cue the “mean girls”, the comrade who drinks too much and has a loose tongue yet never says enough, the handsome counterpart, and the automatous office secretaries, and you’ve got me, hook, line, and sinker. The elusiveness and intrigue in the beginning of this story borders on irritating as the pace that reveals the reason for the mysteries can be a bit slow but it makes the reveals and conclusion all the more worthy for the wait. Also, prepare to have your interest piqued in the Greek tragedies, as this story is often told through the teaching of and interpretation of these timeless works. It is this unique writing approach that makes up for the sometimes unconventional transitions and back-and-forth timeline that can give a reader a bit of whiplash. However, nothing can top the dramatic conclusion, leaving with a hint of possibility for a sequel, or maybe the author is just a tease.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own. ( )

Gothic novel about an all-girls’ boarding school on a remote coast of Scotland in the 1990s. Rose Christie is the newly hired Classics teacher. She gradually discerns that all is not as it appears on the surface. Something sinister is going on. The narrative follows Rose as she figures out the school’s dark secrets.

The setting is described vividly. I enjoyed the inclusion of a half dozen stories of women from Greek mythology, which are woven into the storyline to support the feminist theme. It is extremely slow to develop. I am not sure it should have taken that long for Rose to start piecing together the mysteries. She is supposed to be a smart, capable woman.

The theme of this novel questions a woman’s place in society, but this topic is not explored in any depth. The ending seems a bit too convenient. I liked the concept for this novel but found the execution lacking.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. It is due for publication on May 18, 2021. ( )

In Madam, Rose Christie is mid-twenties classics teacher, who's offered a dream job at an upscale girls' school in Scotland. I love stories set in girls' schools, and the isolated campus was perfect. This is a creeping gothic novel where everything is just a little off, but the protag has the practicality that comes from classroom teaching and the example of her historical women, from Dido to Medea.

Other teachers make vague references to the important things their girls are doing, and the extra lessons they're taking, and promise that everything will be explained soon. Really soon. Not right now, of course, just keep teaching lessons. There are these constant gothic hints that something is very wrong at this posh boarding school and something very dark is happening just off-screen, blended with some snotty students rolling their eyes and telling Rose that she really doesn't know anything yet.

As Rose discovers what's actually happening at her new job, there's an even creepier investigation about who is complicit and connected, and what everyone around her is getting out of working or studying at Caldonbrae Hall. A lot of the students are legacies, all are from upperclass, well-connected families, and some of graduates stay on in cushy teaching or "pastoral" roles. Seems like (almost) everyone around Rose just loves the school community.

This novel is an absolute page-turner, because I was so desperate to figure out just what Rose had gotten herself into and especially what had happened to the previous classics teacher.