Affinity
by Sarah Waters
In Victorian London, a solitary visitor to a women's prison finds herself obsessively drawn to a spiritualist inmate—a relationship that blurs the lines between salvation, desire, and ghosts of the past.
Tropes & Themes
About This Book
In Victorian London, Margaret Prior, an upper-class woman grappling with depression following her father's death, becomes a Lady Visitor at Millbank Prison. Seeking purpose, she befriends Selina Dawes, a spiritualist medium imprisoned for a séance that resulted in a client's death. As their relationship deepens, Margaret is drawn into a world of séances, spirits, and unspoken desires, blurring the lines between reality and the supernatural.
The novel unfolds through alternating diary entries of Margaret and Selina, revealing their complex emotions and the oppressive atmosphere of the prison. Margaret's growing obsession with Selina leads her to question societal norms and her own identity, while Selina's enigmatic presence challenges Margaret's perceptions of love and reality. The story is set against the backdrop of 1870s London, a period when spiritualism was gaining popularity, adding layers of mystery and tension to the narrative.
"Affinity" is a haunting exploration of forbidden attraction, the supernatural, and the constraints of Victorian society. The novel's dark, intense, and suspenseful mood immerses readers in a tale of obsession, betrayal, and the blurred boundaries between the living and the dead.
What Readers Say
Readers praise Sarah Waters' atmospheric portrayal of Victorian London, immersing them in its grimness and gloom. Many commend the novel's intricate exploration of forbidden attraction and the supernatural, blending romance and mystery effectively. Fans note the writing quality, highlighting the author's ability to evoke a haunting and immersive setting. Some readers find the pacing slow, with a significant portion of the novel dedicated to building atmosphere over plot progression. Content warning: The novel includes themes of mental illness, depression, and suicide, which may be distressing to some readers.
Reader Reviews
8 curated reviewsAnonymous Reader
Mar 16, 2004
Fantastic!
Having already read and fallen in love with Waters' first novel "Tipping the Velvet," I must admit I expected more of the same when I picked up "Affinity." Boy, was I wrong!Waters has proven herself as a masterful storyteller, crafting tales that draw the reader in and do not let go. I found myself reading at all hours of the day and night, unable to stop turning the pages, absolutely absorbed in the tale unfolding before me. As I read this novel, I found myself falling in love with Selina Dawes, my heart broken by the dark story behind Margaret Prior's stint as a Lady Visi
N.J.
Jul 20, 2000
A Writer's Model; A Reader's Dream
Ms. Waters has created a novel that is a curiously satisfying mixture of Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens, and Toni Morrison. The narrative style and empathetic female characters are of Bronte; the description and carefully drawn settings and character names are truly Dickensian; and the craftwork of the plot and language are reminiscent of Morrison. The story's framework, told by the journals of both Selina and Margaret, is skillful and well-suited to the plot. I felt immersed in the life of Millbank and the inner turmoil of Margaret. As soon as I finished this book, I recommended it to frie
Alex Nichols
Jul 2, 2002
Highly recommended
"Affinity" is a wonderfully atmospheric novel, set amongst the dank prisons and fog shrouded streets of Victorian London. It is much more than that, though: it is a feminist tale with lesbian undertones, a thriller, and a supernatural shocker with a twist ending that delightfully turns on its ear endings like "The Sixth Sense" and "The Others". (I read this for a book club, and NO ONE was expecting that ending.) There is a pathos to these characters lives -- it was not easy to be a woman in such a repressive society, especially a spirited one.Highly recommended... there's something for everyon
Mizuho Kazami
Aug 23, 2003
Pulls you in and doesn't let you go, even after the end
A much different setting than "Tipping the Velvet," Affinity has still managed to capture a dark side of Victorian London. It brushes on the mysteries of "spiritualism" and indulges in a forbidden love of two women. It is suspenseful, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end and then some.It is the story of a proper lady, Margaret Prior and the love affair she shares with prision inmate, Selina Dawes. The books twists and turns, taking you on an unexpected ride where the characters battle between propriety, love, spiritualism and dark secrets.
Marianne "Marianne"
Sep 18, 2005
Fascinating
This novel is gripping, realistic, and fascinating. I loved the protagonist and found myself desperately rooting for her. Her past is gradually revealed, the readers' sympathies for her grow accordingly. We readers fall under the same spell that she does. Loved the author's metaphors about prisons and how women in that era were all imprisoned, one way or another. The denouement is chilling, painful, and brilliant. I could not put down the last 100 pages. Waters is a master....after reading the ending's twists and turns, I frantically flipped back the pages and realized that Waters had laid all
Lissa "Rabid Bibliophile"
May 8, 2006
One of My Favorites
I usually don't like books written in the "diary" format, but this one sucked me in and wouldn't let go. I sat down shortly after lunch to start reading, and didn't stop 'til long after bedtime. It was hard to tear myself away. It's a story that haunts you. Sarah Waters' style is lyrical, and the plot engrosses the reader almost instantly.It's top-notch historical fiction, rich in period detail from from the dull, grim life in an English women's prison to Victorian repression, it really does come alive.
