By Maggie Goh

I became hooked on the epistolary novel after working on Jane Austen’s LADY SUSAN. As we were wrapping up work on it, I started searching for another epistolary novel from the same era. After reading many that just did not measure up, I came upon THE GREY WOMAN, a novella by Elizabeth Gaskell. It is a compelling thriller about a woman trapped in a horrific marriage — will she break out or will she survive? Or is she doomed? Told through letters and a diary, this tale had me on the edge of my chair until the very end. The helpless Grey Woman is the very opposite of Jane Austen’s devil-may-care Lady Susan.
Natalie Jenner kindly suggested asking Molly Greeley, the author of two novels built around Jane Austen’s characters — The Clergyman’s Wife and The Heiress — to write the Introduction. I was delighted when Molly said yes! In the meantime, as the editors did their careful research into the manuscript, our Creative Director created this stunning cover — and the second PV book was ready for press!

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“Beneath THE GREY WOMAN’s Gothic exterior, with its dreary castle and the mysterious inhabitants within, seethe feminist themes that are still relevant today, 160 years after its writing, leaving no doubt as to the enduring quality of Gaskell’s work.”
— Molly Greeley, Introduction to THE GREY WOMAN by Elizabeth Gaskell

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If you would like the chance to win a prize bundle, including a copy of THE GREY WOMAN and The Clergyman’s Wife, generously donated by Molly Greeley:
– Go to @plumleafbooks and enter our bonanza book giveaway.
AND
– Sign in to @plumleafbooks on 16 November at 7:00 PM EST, for a LIVE IG Event, when the winners will be announced. PLUS, Natalie Jenner, Molly Greeley, and Finola Austin will discuss “Classic Novels, Radical Women”!

The book can also be purchased from plumleafpress.com, select indie bookstores, and Indigo.