The Shutter of Snow (Faber Editions) - 'Extraordinary.' Lucy Ellmann

Introduced by Claire-Louise Bennett, experience one new mother-s psychological journey in this lost 1930 foremother of Sylvia Plath''s The Bell Jar.

''Extraordinary. A fascinating and unexpected delight.'' Lucy Ellmann
''Haunting and evocative, this is a timeless portrayal of madness.'' Catherine Cho
''A startling, luminous and magnetic novel about the complexity of motherhood.'' Yiyun Li
''With its deep musicality, Coleman''s unforgettable voice was years ahead of its time.'' Sin- Gleeson

The only thing to do is to put hammers in the porridge and when there are enough hammers we shall break down the windows and all of us shall dance in the snow.

Some days, Marthe Gail believes she is God; others, Jesus Christ. Her baby, she thinks, is dead. The red light is shining. There are bars on the window. And the voices keep talking.

Time blurs; snow falls. The doctors say it is a breakdown; that t