Bluebeard's Castle

Bluebeard gets a feminist Gothic makeover in this subversive take on the famous French fairy tale -- from the acclaimed director of The Love Witch, and for fans of Jane Eyre

When the successful British mystery writer Judith Moore meets Gavin, a handsome and charming baron, at a birthday party on the Cornish coast, his love transforms her from a bitter, lonely young woman into a romance heroine overnight. After a whirlwind honeymoon in Paris, he whisks her away to a secluded Gothic castle. But soon she finds herself trapped in a nightmare, as her husband's mysterious nature and his alternation between charm and violence become increasingly frightening.

As Judith battles both internal and external demons, including sexual ambivalence, psychological self-torture, gaslighting, family neglect, alcoholism, and domestic abuse, she becomes increasingly addicted to her wild beast of a husband. Why do women stay in abusive relationships? The answer can be found in the tortured mind of the protagonist, whose richly layered fantasy life parallels that of the female Gothic romance reader. Filled with dark humor and evocative imagery, Bluebeard's Castle is a subversive take on modern romance and Gothic erotica.

Author: Anna Biller
Publisher: Verso
Published: 10/10/2023
Pages: 384
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.7lbs
Size: 7.80h x 5.10w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781804291856


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 07/28/2023
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2023
Publishers Weekly 09/11/2023

About the Author
Anna Biller is an independent filmmaker. The New York Times called her film The Love Witch "a hothouse filled with deadly and seductive blooms;" Indiewire called it "a spellbinding feminist delight;" and Rotten Tomatoes listed her as one of "The 21 Masters of Horror Shaping the Genre Right Now." The hashtag #thelovewitch has gone viral on Tiktok, with over 72 million views to date. She is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the writer's branch, and is represented for her film work by WME. She is currently in talks with production companies about the movie version of Bluebeard's Castle.