At the Edge of the Woods

In British journalist Bromwich’s impressive debut novel, Laura Mantovani rents a secluded cottage at the edge of the Italian Alps. Laura’s landlord agreed to rent to her only because she promised that her husband will soon join her. In reality, she’s fled her abusive marriage to a controlling nobleman and is just barely supporting herself by offering tutoring and translating services to the mostly unfriendly residents of the nearby village. Laura cherishes her time walking in the forest and tending to her small garden and, for a bit, it looks like nature is beginning to heal her. However, when she falls ill and becomes increasingly dependent on alcohol and laudanum, her fragile mental state begins to disintegrate—a decline spellbindingly portrayed by narrator Gemma Dawson. Dawson’s expert pacing allows listeners to absorb and appreciate Bromwich’s stylized but tight prose and lyrical cadence, as well as her stirring blend of the natural and supernatural realms.