Mad Shadows

By Marie-Claire Blais

Book Overview

A harrowing pathology of the soul, Mad Shadows centres on a family group: Patrice, the beautiful and narcissistic son; his ugly and malicious sister, Isabelle-Marie; and Louise, their vain and uncomprehending mother. These characters inhabit an amoral universe where beauty reflects no truth and love is an empty delusion. Each character is ultimately annihilated by their own obsessions.

Acclaimed and reviled when it exploded on the Quebec literary scene in 1959, Mad Shadows initiated a new era in Quebec fiction.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0771093527
• ISBN13: 9780771093524
• Release Date: August 2008
• Publisher: New Canadian Library
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Blais' first book - dark, cynical, and beautiful

This is a very short novel, but very good. I can only read the english version, from the translation all i can say is she has a simple style, never too verbose, yet each word is perfectly and simply chosen to precisedly add mood to each scene. A great intro to her writing.

Better in french

This book is beautifully written. The symbolism in this book is deeper than i have ever read before. It is a very sombre novel with so much to get out. If you can read french then definitely pick this up in french because you will find all of the symbolism in this book to be at a much deeper level. this book was meant for french and unfortunately it does tend to lose some of its meaning and qaulity but it is still just as great of a story. i definitely reccomend this book. it is a great achievment of a great author. The novel seems even more interesting and intriguing when you know that she wrote it in only 13 days. it's a must!!! KH, 16