The Dance of the Dolls - by Lucy Ashe (Paperback)

About the Book

Identical twin ballerinas are rehearsing for Coppélia at the recently opened Sadler's Wells Theatre. Olivia aspires to be the perfect ballerina while Clara is rebellious and independent. Clara begins seeing the passionate Nathan, a pianist at the theater. Meanwhile, Olivia is unaware that she's cast a spell on Samuel, a bashful apprentice ballet shoemaker who steals into the building to watch her dance. But as the sisters rehearse, danger lurks. The story of Coppélia and the dancing doll threatens to become a dark and sinister reality. Samuel dreams of being recognized by Olivia, wondering how far he'd go to achieve his goal, while Nathan begins to blur the lines between reality and his dark fantasy world . . .

Book Synopsis

The critically acclaimed novel about obsessive love featuring two ballet dancers, identical twin sisters Olivia and Clara Marionetta, with a terrifying climax set in the world of ballet in pre-war London--now in paperback.

The Dance of the Dolls tells the story of identical twin ballerinas rehearsing for Coppélia at the recently opened Sadler's Wells Theatre. Superficially, even their differences are complementary: Olivia aspires to be the perfect ballerina while Clara is rebellious and independent. Clara takes up a relationship with the bohemian and passionate Nathan, a pianist at the theater. Meanwhile, Olivia is unaware that she has cast a spell on another frequent visitor to Sadler's Wells: Samuel, a bashful apprentice ballet shoemaker who steals into the building as often as he can to watch her dance. But as the sisters rehearse, danger lurks. The story of Coppélia and the dancing doll threatens to become a dark and sinister reality. Olivia becomes jealous of Nathan's adoration of Clara, while Clara discovers that being adored can feel suffocating. Samuel dreams of being recognized by Olivia and wonders how far he would go to achieve his goal, while Nathan, a musical child prodigy, struggles to adapt to adulthood and begins to blur the lines between reality and his dark fantasy world . . .

Review Quotes

"Ashe's persuasive behind-the-scenes ballet sections lend heft and authenticity to what could otherwise be mere window dressing, and she transitions her narrative from charming slice of historical fiction to pulse-pounding suspense at an expert pace. It's a fiercely memorable debut from a writer to watch."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Historical-novel fans as well as those who enjoy a bit of gothic intrigue will appreciate this story."--Booklist

"Based on the real ballet scene in prewar London, this immersive tale will be a delight for historical-fiction fans who like a touch of suspense."--Library Journal

"Ashe trained with the Royal Ballet School, and she is fascinating on the detail of the girls' lives; on the pain and the bloodied feet that underpin the perfection of the dance, on, as Samuel says, 'this mad life you all live, always on the edge of pain and exhaustion.' A wonderful, eye-opening debut."--London Times

"Dances with historical details, with unease and atmosphere. You can feel the mist of the London canals, hear the ballet shoes touching the stage."--Abigail Dean, New York Times bestselling author of Girl A

"Haunting and richly evocative, The Dance of the Dolls takes the reader on a spellbinding journey through the 1930s London ballet scene, in which the beauty and elegance of the participants is the flip side of a destructive drive for perfection and darkly murderous obsessions. Lucy Ashe's debut is absolutely en pointe."--Lexie Elliott, author of The French Girl

"A clever thriller . . . the characters are compelling. Take a bow, Ms. Ashe."--Historical Novel Review

"[An] unsettling tale. . . . As the story follows the rehearsals for the ballet Coppélia, we receive a quick-fire education on how the ballet works and why it inspires obsession. . . . An original thriller with a crafty plot."--Daily Mail

"This original and exquisitely written novel is a highly accomplished debut."--Plays to See

"The ballet world sets the stage for this terrifying psychological thriller that takes place in pre-war London."--Entertainment Weekly

"[T]his novel promises a chilling and captivating story."--NBC Champaign, IL (WCIA)

About the Author

Lucy Ashe is an English teacher. After training at the Royal Ballet School, she decided to change career plans and go to university. She studied English literature at St. Hugh's College, Oxford, before receiving her teaching qualification. Ashe's poetry and short stories have been published in a number of literary journals, and she was shortlisted for the 2020 Impress Prize for New Writers. She lives in New York City.