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Victorian Psycho: A Novel
Virginia Feito's Mrs. March was hailed as "a brilliant debut . . . [by] a writer who keeps pace with the grandees she invokes" (Sarah Ditum, Guardian)--from Daphne Du Maurier and Shirley Jackson to Patricia Highsmith. Now, Feito returns with her "silver-polish sentences and her eerie psychological acumen" (Constance Grady, Vox) to unleash an entirely new antihero on us all.
Grim Wolds, England: Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House prepared to play the perfect governess--she'll dutifully tutor her charges, Drusilla and Andrew, tell them bedtime stories, and only joke about eating children. But long, listless days spent within the estate's dreary confines come with an intimate knowledge of the perversions and pathetic preoccupations of the Pounds family--Mr. Pounds can't keep his eyes off Winifred's chest, and Mrs. Pounds takes a sickly pleasure in punishing Winifred for her husband's wandering gaze. Compounded with her disdain for the entitled Pounds children, Winifred finds herself struggling at every turn to stifle the violent compulsions of her past. French tutoring and needlework are one way to pass the time, as is admiring the ugly portraits in the gallery . . . and creeping across the moonlit lawns. . . .
Patience. Winifred must have patience, for Christmas is coming, and she has very special gifts planned for the dear souls of Ensor House. Brimming with sardonic wit and culminating in a shocking conclusion, Victorian Psycho plunges readers into the chilling mind of an iconic new literary psychopath.
Grim Wolds, England: Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House prepared to play the perfect governess--she'll dutifully tutor her charges, Drusilla and Andrew, tell them bedtime stories, and only joke about eating children. But long, listless days spent within the estate's dreary confines come with an intimate knowledge of the perversions and pathetic preoccupations of the Pounds family--Mr. Pounds can't keep his eyes off Winifred's chest, and Mrs. Pounds takes a sickly pleasure in punishing Winifred for her husband's wandering gaze. Compounded with her disdain for the entitled Pounds children, Winifred finds herself struggling at every turn to stifle the violent compulsions of her past. French tutoring and needlework are one way to pass the time, as is admiring the ugly portraits in the gallery . . . and creeping across the moonlit lawns. . . .
Patience. Winifred must have patience, for Christmas is coming, and she has very special gifts planned for the dear souls of Ensor House. Brimming with sardonic wit and culminating in a shocking conclusion, Victorian Psycho plunges readers into the chilling mind of an iconic new literary psychopath.
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Community Reviews
This book was one hell of wild ride!! And I enjoyed every single minute of it!!
Our FMC, Winifred Notty, is definitely psycho! I found myself shocked one minute and chuckling the next! I highly recommend this one, book peeps!!
Thank you to NetGalley, W.W. Norton, Liveright, and Virginia Feito for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️ I will definitely be checking out more from Virginia!
I’ve never read a story quite like this before so for that reason alone I would recommend this to people that I know could handle it. Not for the faint of heart or those squeamish when it comes to children. And trust me, don’t make the mistake that I made with reading while eating :)
The story is told from the perspective of Miss Winifred Notty as she arrives at Ensor House to take on the role of the new governess. It’s very obvious from early on (first page) that our MC is unhinged and you’re left wondering if what she’s describing is real or imagined throughout the story. Though, honestly, all of the characters are pretty weird or fucked up. It’s a bit of a mystery as to why she applied for the position at this estate but she definitely came with the intent to ruffle some petticoats. Miss Notty is detached, cold-blooded and vulgar but there’s no denying her wit and dark sense of humor.
This was super easy to read quickly and gory/descriptive so I let out a good amount of “what the fuckkk”s and “right in front of my salad?”s. The prose is very fitting for the time and I enjoyed the handful of pictures throughout the book but I really wish it was longer. Imo, similar to American Psycho (obviously) and would work as an A24 movie reminiscent of Pearl. Overall this is a perfect October - December read, and I’ll be adding a physical copy when it releases in February 2025!
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