The Woman Who Gave Birth To Rabbits

Donoghue finds her inspiration for these wry, robust tales in obscure scraps of historical records: an engraving of a woman giving birth to rabbits; a plague ballad; surgical case notes; theological pamphlets; an articulated skeleton. Here kings, surgeons, soldiers, and ladies of leisure rub shoulders with cross-dressers, cult leaders, poisoners, and arsonists.

Whether she's spinning the tale of an Irish soldier tricked into marrying a dowdy spinster, a Victorian surgeon's attempts to "improve" women, a seventeenth-century countess who ran away to Italy disguised as a man, or an "undead" murderess returning for the maid she left behind to be executed in her place, Emma Donoghue brings to her stories an "elegant, colorful prose filled with unforgettable sights, sounds and smells" (Elle). Here she summons the ghosts of those women who counted for nothing in their own day, but who come to unforgettable life in fiction.

About the author

Born in Ireland, national bestselling author EMMA DONOGHUE spent many years in England and now lives in Canada. Her books include Room (basis for the Oscar-nominated film), Slammerkin, and The Pull of the Stars. Her novels have been translated into eight languages.

Summary

Donoghue finds her inspiration for these wry, robust tales in obscure scraps of historical records: an engraving of a woman giving birth to rabbits; a plague ballad; surgical case notes; theological pamphlets; an articulated skeleton. Here kings, surgeons, soldiers, and ladies of leisure rub shoulders with cross-dressers, cult leaders, poisoners, and arsonists.

Whether she's spinning the tale of an Irish soldier tricked into marrying a dowdy spinster, a Victorian surgeon's attempts to "improve" women, a seventeenth-century countess who ran away to Italy disguised as a man, or an "undead" murderess returning for the maid she left behind to be executed in her place, Emma Donoghue brings to her stories an "elegant, colorful prose filled with unforgettable sights, sounds and smells" (Elle). Here she summons the ghosts of those women who counted for nothing in their own day, but who come to unforgettable life in fiction.

Product details

• Authors: Kathleen Anderson, DONOGHUE, Emma Donoghue
• Publisher: Harper Collins (US)
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.06.2003
• EAN: 9780156027397
• ISBN: 978-0-15-602739-7
• No. of pages: 272
• Series: Harvest Book; Harvest Book
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature; Fantasy, Historical fiction, Short Stories, Historical fantasy, Sea stories, United States of America, USA, Relating to gay people, Relating to Trans / Transgender people or gender minorities, FICTION: Literary, FICTION: Women, FICTION: Historical / General, FICTION: Short Stories (single author), FICTION: LGBTQ+ / Bisexual, LITERARY COLLECTIONS: American / General, FICTION: Sea Stories, LITERARY COLLECTIONS: Women Authors, FICTION: Fantasy / Collections & Anthologies, FICTION: Anthologies (multiple authors), FICTION: Fantasy / Historical, FICTION: Friendship, FICTION: LGBTQ+ / Gay, FICTION: LGBTQ+ / Transgender, Relating to bisexual / pansexual / polysexual people