A Season in Hell

Publisher and industry reviews

Jacket review

'A vigorous book' Mary Margaret McCabe, TLS 'The strangest thing about A SEASON IN HELL is that, even though it is a meticulous catalogue of her descent into this other, diminished, way of life ... it ends up being immensely cheering' Maureen Freely, GUARDIAN 'The struggle to assert control over chaos, and the painful realisation that your former life can never be resumed, is a powerful theme of the book' Julie Wheelwright, INDEPENDENT 'An awesome testament to the bravery of a woman who manages to defy a supposedly unbeatable disease.' BIG ISSUE 'A fascinating, honest and courageous story.' WOMAN'S WAY 'It is an inspiring, life-affirming story and will give great encouragement to many struggling with sickness or despair.' IRELAND ON SUNDAY 'The fact that anyone could write this book cheers me up no end.' Evelyn Conlon, IRELAND SUNDAY TRIBUNE 'Marilyn French, author of My Summer with George, The Women's Room and Her Mother's Daughter, learns at the beginning of this memoir that she has cancer of the oesophagus. (A smoker for 46 years, she had ignored friends and doctors who implored her to stop). She is told that one survives metastasized esophageal cancer. A Season in Hell is French's personal story of her journey through the nightmares of aggressive cancer treatment, seizures, a two-week coma, kindhearted nurses, and uncompassionate doctors. One told her not to get her hopes up when her tumour disappeared, and a neurologist said (prophetically?), "Doctors hate writers; they always say horrible things about us." It is also French's story of triumph--because she succeeds in conquering the cancer, though she emerges from the struggle far from well, with "just about every system in my body [damaged] by chemotherapy or radiation." Readers share the worst and the best with French, and by the end of the book get to know this woman, feel a part of her humanity, respect her courage, and cherish her circle of close friends (including Gloria Steinem) and relatives who gave her so much when she needed it most.' Joan Price, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW

UK Kirkus review

Taking its title from Rimbaud's Un Saison en Enfer, this is a truly harrowing read from the author of legendary feminist bestseller The Women's Room. A lifelong smoker, in 1992 she was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus and given only a year to live. Five years on she is still alive; the cancer has disappeared from her body but at a heavy price - the damage caused by the radiotherapy and chemotherapy is far-reaching. At times almost too painful and depressing to read, this is ultimately a tale of courage in adversity and the resilience of human nature. (Kirkus UK)

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