The Mesmerist

Description

Unable to find stage work, actresses Cordelia Preston and Rillie Spoons need to find a way of making a living. Cordelia remembers the skills of her aunt and sets out to be a phreno-mesmerist, advising couples on their compatibility and enlightening women on The Gentle Intricacies of the Wedding Night'. Cordelia finds that she does indeed possess the gift for mesmerism, and as her popularity grows, she and Rillie are finally living their dream. But events from Cordelia's past return to haunt her, and the women become embroiled in a scandal that threatens to ruin not only them but those they love ... First published 2007.

Reviews

'A delightful plum pudding of a historical novel' Sunday Times ** 'A cracking good story told with verve and assurance' Publishing News ** 'Packed with period atmosphere, this is a stirring tale' Woman and Home ** 'Expertly executed' Mirror

Author description

Barbara Ewing is a New Zealand-born actress and author who lives in London. She has a university degree in English and Maori and won the Bancroft Gold Medal at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.