Life and Death of Harriett Frean

From a nursery awash in firelight, the story opens with baby Harriett’s delighted giggles as she repeats a simple rhyme about a cat, a queen, and a mouse. Her parents surround her with tender, almost ritualistic kisses that mark the rhythm of sleep and waking, while the house’s shadows and the soft sway of the Angora cat, Mimi, frame a world of quiet wonder. These early moments establish a close‑knit family whose affection is both warm and surprisingly calculated.

As Harriett grows, the narrative shifts to the delicate politics of her childhood home: a glittering blue egg, a beloved wax doll named Ida, and a newer, less cherished companion, Emily. The pressure to share, the sting of jealousy, and a mother’s insistence on generosity ignite Harriett’s inner turmoil, prompting secret acts of burial and denial. Through these small but sharp conflicts, the novel explores how love, possessiveness, and societal expectations begin to shape a young woman’s sense of self.