Study for Obedience

Name: Study for Obedience
ISBN: 9781783789931

EGP980.00

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2023
Granta Best of Young British Novelists 2023
A powerful, compressed masterwork for fans of Shirley Jackson and Claire-Louise Bennett
A woman moves from the place of her birth to a remote northern country to be housekeeper to her brother, whose wife has just left him. The youngest child of many siblings – more than she cares to remember – from earliest childhood she has attended to their every desire, smoothed away the slightest discomfort with perfect obedience, with the highest degree of devotion.
The country, it transpires, is the country of their family’s ancestors, an obscure though reviled people. Soon after she arrives, a series of unfortunate events occurs – collective bovine hysteria; the demise of a ewe and her nearly-born lamb; a local dog’s phantom pregnancy; the containment of domestic fowl; a potato blight. She notices that the local suspicion about incomers in general seems to be directed particularly in her case. What is clear is that she is being accused of wrongdoing, but in a language she cannot understand and so cannot address. And however diligently and silently she toils in service of the community, still she feels their hostility growing, pressing at the edges of her brother’s property.
Inside the house, although she tends to her brother and his home with the utmost care and attention, he too begins to fall ill…

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SKU: 9781783789931 Categories: Books, English Books, Literature & Fiction Author: Sarah Bernstein

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Study for Obedience

Study for Obedience Book Description

Study for Obedience is a striking English novel now available at Kalimat Bookstore Online. The story follows a young woman who leaves her hometown to work as a housekeeper for her brother in a remote northern region. Her brother’s wife has just departed, leaving her to navigate a strange community while honoring a lifetime of silent devotion. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2023 and the Granta Best of Young British Novelists 2023, the book will appeal to fans of Shirley Jackson and Claire‑Louise Bennett.

The protagonist is the youngest of many siblings and has spent her life obeying every demand. She smooths away discomfort with perfect compliance. Soon after she arrives, unsettling events begin: collective bovine hysteria, the death of a ewe and its near‑born lamb, a dog’s phantom pregnancy, and a sudden potato blight. Meanwhile, the tight‑knit community grows suspicious, focusing especially on her as an outsider.

She discovers that accusations are being made against her in a language she cannot understand. Therefore she cannot defend herself, and the tension mounts. Inside her brother’s house she tends to his needs with meticulous care, but he also begins to fall ill, adding another layer of dread. Throughout the novel, the prose remains luminous yet unsettling, keeping readers on edge.

Key Features of Study for Obedience

Fans of psychological fiction will enjoy the novel’s tight focus on obedience and isolation. Moreover, the narrative delivers vivid scenes of rural life, from haunting livestock incidents to the relentless blight that threatens the harvest. Additionally, the author weaves subtle commentary on heritage, revealing a land once owned by the protagonist’s ancestors, now reviled and forgotten.

Throughout the book the story balances personal tragedy with broader cultural critique. It offers a powerful read for anyone who appreciates layered storytelling. The setting feels authentic, and the eerie atmosphere invites comparisons to classic gothic works while maintaining a fresh, contemporary voice.

Why Read This Book?

Readers will appreciate how the novel explores the limits of loyalty and the cost of silence. The story challenges us to consider how language shapes power and how obedience can become a form of captivity. Furthermore, the haunting atmosphere adds depth to the psychological tension.

Because the protagonist’s plight is both intimate and universal, many readers will find echoes of their own struggles with duty and identity. Also, the book provides a vivid glimpse into rural traditions, making it a valuable cultural portrait as well as a gripping narrative. The themes of isolation, heritage, and resilience resonate long after the final page.

About This Book

For more details about Study for Obedience and its author, visit the Goodreads page. Explore the best English books online in our store through the English Books collection. Enjoy a reading experience that lingers long after you close the cover.