Royal Holloway alumna Xenobe Purvis (Creative Writing, 2015) has published her debut novel, The Hounding, with Penguin Random House.

cover of 'The hounding' novel

Set in 18th century Oxfordshire, the novel tells the story of the five Mansfield sisters - young women viewed with suspicion and fear by their neighbours in the village of Little Nettlebed. As a suffocating summer heatwave grips the community, strange happenings fuel rumours that the sisters are not only liars and troublemakers, but have been seen transforming into a pack of dogs. With memories of the witch trials still fresh, hysteria builds, and when a bark leads to a bite, the sisters must face the consequences.

Visceral and richly atmospheric, The Hounding explores themes of hysteria, prejudice and female agency in a world where the power of a man’s word is absolute, and it is often safer to be a wild animal than an unconventional young woman.

Reflecting on her time at Royal Holloway, Xenobe said:

“I learned a lot: most straightforwardly about writing, but also how to think of myself as a writer and how to navigate the challenging world of publishing. It was focusing and galvanising.”

To find out more, click here.

Congratulations to Xenobe on her debut publication, we are hoping to see many more in the future!