*The debut novel by Josephine Hart, reissued as a Virago Modern Classic - a chilling exploration of physical passion and psychological darkness

'A remarkable first novel of awesome accomplishment and quite startling psychological insight' - Ruth Rendell.

Josephine Hart (1942-2011) was the bestselling author of Damage, Sin, Oblivion and The Reconstructionist. She was a Director of Haymarket Publishing and founded Gallery Poets before going on to produce a number of West End plays. As well writing novels, she was a 'poetry evangelist' and her Josephine Hart Poetry Hour at the British Library inspired two edited poetry books: Catching Life By the Throat and Words that Burn. She was married to Maurice Saatchi and had two sons.