Bluebeard's Castle

Charles Perrault's Bluebeard gets a feminist gothic makeover in this subversive take on the famous French fairy tale--from the filmmaker behind the cult film, The Love Witch, and for fans of Jane Eyre

Judith is a successful novelist, but she's a little sensitive. She's from a good family, even if that family favors her more beautiful sister. She loves a drink (or 3) but isn't sure if she loves the handsome doctor who is courting her. She yearns for a romance to yield to but remains a virgin. Judith receives visions from the saints.

Then Judith meets Gavin, a handsome and charming baron, at a wedding on the Cornish coast. His love transforms her from a plain, lonely girl into a beautiful, glamorous woman overnight.

After a whirlwind honeymoon in Paris, he whisks her away to a Gothic castle in the countryside. But soon her perfect marriage begins to fall apart and she finds herself trapped in a nightmare, as her husband's mysterious nature, and his alternation of charm and violence, become more and more confusing and frightening. And then there are those whispers amongst the staff, unsettling rumors from London, and strange rattlings from the crypt..

From the visionary filmmaker of The Love Witch, this is a modern gothic feminist take on the classic folktale Bluebeard.

Author: Anna Biller
Publisher: Verso
Published: 10/10/2023
Pages: 384
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.81lbs
ISBN: 9781804291856


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 07/28/2023

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.