Mad Shadows
Mad Shadows
Book Brief
Beta128
Novel • Fiction
French-Canadian countryside • 1950s
1990
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Mad Shadows by Marie-Claire Blais explores themes of beauty, jealousy, and familial dysfunction. The narrative centers around a family struggling with superficial values and emotional detachment, highlighting the destructive impact of envy and misunderstanding. As characters navigate personal conflicts, they confront the consequences of prioritizing appearances over genuine connections.
Dark
Melancholic
Mysterious
Reviews & Readership
786 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Mad Shadows by Marie-Claire Blais is a haunting exploration of human flaws and deformities, both physical and emotional. Critics appreciate its poetic prose and psychological depth, yet some find its bleakness overwhelming. The novel's intense focus on beauty and ugliness provokes thought but may not appeal to all readers due to its grim narrative.
Who Should Read Mad Shadows?
Readers who appreciate Mad Shadows by Marie-Claire Blais often enjoy exploring themes of existential angst, flawed familial relationships, and psychological depth. Fans of books like The Stranger by Albert Camus or The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka will likely find this novel intriguing.
786 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Published in 1959, Mad Shadows (originally titled La Belle Bête) was Marie-Claire Blais's debut novel and established her as a significant literary figure in Quebec's literary landscape.
The novel was controversial at the time of its release for its stark and lyrical portrayal of human nature, drawing parallels to the existential themes popular in mid-20th-century literature.
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At age 20, Blais wrote Mad Shadows, and her fresh voice drew attention from literary circles, earning her praise from prominent writers such as Gabrielle Roy.
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128
Novel • Fiction
French-Canadian countryside • 1950s
1990
Adult
18+ years
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