The Episode - by Mary Ann Kenny (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"A must-read: it hits you right in the heart." --Katriona O'Sullivan, author of Poor
"Written in beautifully honest prose... a gripping and important book." --Horatio Clare, The Telegraph
"Compelling." --Irish Examiner
"A story of tenacity and bravery... visceral." --The Irish Times

It could happen to anyone.

One April day, Mary Ann Kenny's husband died suddenly while jogging near their family home. In the months that followed, Mary Ann--who had no previous history of mental illness--fell into deep depression, followed by a terrifying cascade of physical and psychological symptoms. Among them was the delusion that her young children had been harmed by her medication.

In The Episode, Mary Ann offers an unflinching, deeply moving account of her descent into psychosis, her hospitalization, and her remarkable journey back to health. Drawing on detailed medical records as well as her own recollections, she reconstructs her experience day by day, capturing what it feels like to lose touch with reality while grieving and living with the unbearable belief that everything you love is under threat.

The book also tells a powerful story of recovery: how Mary Ann reclaimed her life, came to terms with trauma, and spoke honestly to the health system about the limits of medical psychiatry. Written with the pace of a thriller and the insight of a psychological novel, The Episode is a profound act of personal reclamation.

It reminds us that severe mental illness can affect anyone--and that recovery, meaning, and happiness remain possible even after the darkest experiences.

Review Quotes

"A must-read: it hits you right in the heart."
-- Katriona O'Sullivan, author of Poor

"Written in beautifully honest prose, and illuminated throughout by something rare and invaluable: the notes kept by those who dealt with her.... A gripping and important book."
-- Horatio Clare, The Telegraph

"Compelling."
-- Irish Examiner

"A story of tenacity and bravery ... visceral."
-- The Irish Times

"Powerful."
-- Brendan O'Connor, RTÉ Radio 1

"A deeply moving, often terrifying account of grief, illness, and recovery. This vivid memoir carries the reader so close to its unfolding events that it quickens the breath."
-- Doireann Ní Ghríofa, author of A Ghost in the Throat

"Deeply insightful, clear-sighted and immersive ... it would be harrowing if not so beautifully written. I've never read anything quite like it."
-- Patrick Freyne, author of OK, Let's Do Your Stupid Idea

"Steers an arresting course between an academic's rigorous research and pacy, insightful readability ... it's shocking to read."
-- The Irish Times

"Delivered in elegant, quietly furious prose, it deserves a wide readership."
-- Sunday Independent

"A page-turning read ... a fantastic writer."
-- Irish Times Women's Podcast

"A brave, elucidatory book."
-- Ceci Browning, The Times

About the Author

Mary Ann Kenny is an academic. She lives in Dublin with her children.