Every Day Is Mother's Day

Every Day is Mother's Day is Hilary Mantel's debut novel, a darkly comic and satirical drama set in 1970s England. The story centers on Evelyn Axon, a widow and devout spiritualist who has spent years shielding her mentally-handicapped daughter Muriel from the outside world. When Muriel becomes pregnant, Evelyn's desperate efforts to keep the situation private collide with the dogged persistence of Isabel Field, a social worker assigned to the case. As their lives and secrets intertwine, the novel builds toward a shocking and darkly comic climax. Mantel's sharp prose and keen eye for character make this a compelling study of maternal devotion, institutional failure, and the absurdity of a life lived in denial.