The Robber Bride

The Story

Exploring the paradox of female villainy, this  tale of three fascinating women is another peerless  display of literary virtuosity by the supremely  gifted author of Cat's Eye and  The Handmaid's Tale. Roz, Charis  and Tony all share a wound, and her name is Zenia.  Beautiful, smart and hungry, by turns manipulative  and vulnerable, needy and ruthless, Zenia is the  turbulent center of her own perpetual saga. She  entered their lives in the sixties, when they were in  college. Over the three decades since, she has  damaged each of them badly, ensnaring their sympathy,  betraying their trust, and treating their men as loot. Then Zenia dies, or at any rate the three  women -- with much relief -- attend her funeral. But  as The Robber Bride begins,  Roz, Charis and Tony have come together at a trendy  restaraunt for their monthly lunch when in walks  the seemingly resurrected Zenia... In this  consistently entertaining and profound new novel,  Margaret Atwood reports from the farthest reaches  of the war between the sexes with her  characteristic well-crafted prose, rich and devious humor, and  compassion.