Asylum by Patrick McGrath is a dark novel that delves into the consequences of obsessional love. The story revolves around Stella Raphael, the wife of a psychiatrist at an asylum for the criminally insane, who becomes infatuated with a disturbed inmate named Edgar Stark. As their relationship unfolds, madness, obsession, and tragedy deeply affect everyone involved in their past. The narrative is intricate, showcasing the dark side of human nature through morally ambiguous characters and a suspenseful plot that keeps readers questioning the truth and motives of each individual.
The book is narrated by Dr. Cleave, a psychiatrist with his own agenda, who provides a unique perspective on the events that transpire. McGrath's writing style masterfully captures the descent into madness and obsession, creating a chilling atmosphere that is reminiscent of classic gothic literature. The story is filled with twists and turns, unreliable narrators, and a sense of foreboding that keeps readers engaged till the very end.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for Asylum include themes of violence, mental illness, infidelity, and graphic depictions of obsession.
Has Romance?
The levels of romance in Asylum are medium due to its focus on infidelity and obsessive relationships.
From The Publisher:
From our most celebrated writer of the psychological thriller comes this nerve-wracking yet eerily beautiful work of erotic obsession and madness.
In the summer of 1959 Stella Raphael joins her psychiatrist husband, Max, at his new posting-a maximum-security hospital for the criminally insane. Beautiful and headstrong, Stella soon falls under the spell of Edgar Stark, a brilliant and magnetic sculptor who has been confined to the hospital for murdering his wife in a psychotic rage.
But Stella's knowledge of Edgar's crime is no hindrance to the volcanic attraction that ensues-a passion that will consume Stella's sanity and destroy her and the lives of those around her.
Ratings (8)
Loved It (4) | |
Liked It (3) | |
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (34):
Read It (7) | |
Want To Read (18) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (8) |
What can you read after
Asylum?
About the Author:
Patrick McGrath is the author of several modern gothic novels, including Asylum and Spider, and two collections of stories. He lives in New York, where he is on the writing faculties of the New School and Princeton University.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
