Review: ‘Madam' by Phoebe Wynne (Dark Academia, feminism and shocking plot twists)
This was one of those books that I was expecting to like, but not for it to haunt me for weeks after finishing it. There was no plan to review ‘Madam’ by Phoebe Wynne on the blog, but sometimes the universe has other ideas and we have to just allow to be lead by its hand.
If you’re not familiar with this book, here’s the summary:
For 150 years, high above rocky Scottish cliffs, Caldonbrae Hall has sat untouched, a beacon of excellence in an old ancestral castle. A boarding school for girls, it promises that the young women lucky enough to be admitted will emerge “resilient and ready to serve society.”
Into its illustrious midst steps Rose Christie: a 26-year-old Classics teacher, Caldonbrae’s new head of the department, and the first hire for the school in over a decade. At first, Rose is overwhelmed to be invited into this institution, whose prestige is unrivaled. But she quickly discovers that behind the school’s elitist veneer lies an impenetrable, starkly traditional culture that she struggles to reconcile with her modernist beliefs—not to mention her commitment to educating “girls for the future.”
It also doesn’t take long for Rose to suspect that there’s more to the secret circumstances surrounding the abrupt departure of her predecessor—a woman whose ghost lingers everywhere—than anyone is willing to let on. In her search for this mysterious former teacher, Rose instead uncovers the darkness that beats at the heart of Caldonbrae, forcing her to confront the true extent of the school’s nefarious purpose, and her own role in perpetuating it.
Very much feminist Dark Academia vibes, and since reading it I’m surprised it doesn’t appear on more contemporary gothic or dark academia lists. (I featured on this one here, in case you’re interested). Also, if you can say “Caldonbrae” without putting on yourbest McGonagall voice then more power to you!
There is a bit of a 90s revival right now in both slow and fast media. I’m not sure if it’s a symbiotic thing, the fast media (socials, fashion, aesthetics) feeding of slow media (literature, cinema, generational shifts) but I am HERE FOR IT.
I’ve written about the 90s previously on the blog, and how it is the last decade that wasn’t subject to the hyper-consumption of content and products thanks to the internet. There is something electric and modern about it, while still being very much post-facebook.
Anyway, back to the book in hand.
When I say this read packs a punch, I mean that it completely winded me. There’s this moment (which I won’t spoil) where it suddenly flips the script and becomes something else entirely. And it was a stunning piece of craftsmanship.
The very fact that schools like this are entirely possible (and probably exist) makes me feel queasy. What I thought the author pinpointed so perfectly was how these settings become a microcosm of its own governance. And by shutting the school off from the outside world it makes it impossible for Rose not to be caught up in it, despite her best efforts to escape, and keep her head above water.
The SETTING. I mean. It’s stunning, and described to create a cloying and evocative atmosphere. I loved that there were different levels and elements, from the classrooms, to the dorms, to the dining hall, and then the outdoor spaces. The fact that there is a private beach created this small sense of freedom both for Rose and the girls; you can feel the mood change in the air as they head down to swim in the sea.
If I were to shelve this book alongside some others, I think it would be in good company with ‘The Secret History’ by Donna Tartt, ‘Only Ever Yours’ by Louise O’Neill, and ‘Plain Bad Heroines’ by Emily M. Danforth. I said what I said.
I felt a kind of kinship with Rose. She’s actually not a very remarkable character, but I think that’s what makes her so relatable. She’s academic, ambitious, stands by her principles and asserts her opinions. I like that she can forgive those that have wronged her, but she doesn’t forget… And this is an important point. She will not forget. And this prevents her from future harm, I think.
Ahh, I have to be so cryptic. But there’s this one scene with a potential love interest and oh my gosh, it was… *vomits* (hats off to the author for really making that scene gross but also incredibly important).
It’s not easy to review this book, actually, without giving the game away. I don’t want to ruin any part of the reading experience, but what I will say is that you need to stick with it. I PROMISE it all starts to make sense and all that time spent laying foundations builds a conclusion that will take your breath away.
Have you read it?
Written by Sarah
