Affinity

Set in and around the women's prison at Milbank in the 1870's , AFFINITY is an eerie and utterly compelling ghost story, a complex and intriguing literary mystery and a poignant love story with an unexpected twist in the tale. Following the death of her father, Margaret Prior has decided to pursue some 'good work' with the lady criminals of one of London's most notorious gaols. Surrounded by prisoners, murderers and common thieves, Margaret feels herself drawn to one of the prisons more unlikely inmates - the imprisoned spiritualist - Selina Dawes. Sympathetic to the plight of this innocent-seeming girl, Margaret sees herself dispensing guidance and perhaps friendship on her visits, little expecting to find herself dabbling in a twilight world of seances, shadows, unruly spirits and unseemly passions.

Winner of Somerset Maugham Awards 2000
Short-listed for Mail on Sunday / John Llewellyn Rhys Prize 2000
Short-listed for Mail on Sunday/John Llewellyn Rhys Prize 2000

Refined, repressed and simmering... a delicious tale of Victorian spiritualism -- Mel Steel Independent on Sunday
Spooky, spellbinding, exquisitely written... I do believe Waters is on the way to becoming a major literary star Val Hennessy
Beautifully, atmospherically written, this is a tale to thrill your very soul Metro
An exquisitely sad, pseudo-ghost story... it is a novel that takes countless risks -- Matt Thorne Independent on Sunday
Affinity is the work of an intense and atmospheric imagination... Sarah Waters is such an interesting writer, a kind of feminist Dickens -- Fiona Pitt-Kethley Daily Telegraph
Sarah Waters is such a brilliant writer that her readers would believe anything she told them -- A.N. Wilson Daily Mail
Extraordinary... written in a subtly caricatured period style... So well researched is this novel that both diaries seem grotesquely authentic The Times
Sexy, spooky, stylish, Affinity is a wonderful book Guardian
Waters displays her incredible talent for the Gothic historical novel in this splendid book about a Victorian women's prison and the affair there between an inmate and a lady visitor San Francisco Chronicle
Gothic tale, psychological study, puzzle narrative... superbly suspenseful... This is gripping, astute fiction that feeds the mind and senses Seattle Times
Unfolds sinuously and ominously... a powerful plot-twister... a truly suspenseful tale of terror; and a piece of elegant, thinly veiled erotica. Like a Ouija board, Affinity offers different messages to different readers, scaring the shrouds off everyone in the process USA Today
A richly detailed exploration of the mysterious affinity that appears to unite two lonely women... Waters has found a superb metaphor for the love that dares not speak its name, and developed it with remarkable ingenuity and power: another stunning performance Kirkus

Sarah Waters was born in Wales in 1966. She has a PhD in English Literature and has taught at the Open University.

From the award-winning author of Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith , shortlisted for both the Orange and the Man Booker prize. 'Now you know why you are drawn to me - why your flesh comes creeping to mine, and what it comes for. Let it creep.' From the dark heart of a Victorian prison, disgraced spiritualist Selina Dawes weaves an enigmatic spell. Is she a fraud, or a prodigy? By the time it all begins to matter, you'll find yourself desperately wanting to believe in magic. 'Spooky, spellbinding, exquisitely written . . . I do believe Waters is on the way to becoming a major literary star' Val Hennessy 'Indeed, this is such a brilliant writer that her readers would believe anything she told them' A. N. Wilson, Daily Mail 'Refined, repressed and simmering . . . a delicious tale of Victorian spiritualism' Mel Steel, Independent on Sunday

Set in and around the women's prison at Milbank in the 1870's , AFFINITY is an eerie and utterly compelling ghost story, a complex and intriguing literary mystery and a poignant love story with an unexpected twist in the tale. Following the death of her father, Margaret Prior has decided to pursue some 'good work' with the lady criminals of one of London's most notorious gaols. Surrounded by prisoners, murderers and common thieves, Margaret feels herself drawn to one of the prisons more unlikely inmates - the imprisoned spiritualist - Selina Dawes. Sympathetic to the plight of this innocent-seeming girl, Margaret sees herself dispensing guidance and perhaps friendship on her visits, little expecting to find herself dabbling in a twilight world of seances, shadows, unruly spirits and unseemly passions.

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