J
Julia Armfield
Julia Armfield writes fiction that explores the strange and unsettling. Her novel Our Wives Under the Sea is a notable example of her unique style.
Our Wives Under the Sea
Synopsis
When Leah finally returns from a deep-sea mission that went catastrophically wrong — a routine dive that stretched into months trapped at the bottom of the ocean — she is not the woman her wife Miri remembers. Something followed Leah up from the deep, or something in the deep followed her home, and slowly, quietly, Leah is changing, her body beginning to give way as though the sea is reclaiming her.
Alternating between Miri's grief-stricken present and Leah's account of what happened below, Julia Armfield's debut novel is a haunting, oceanic story of love and loss — part literary horror, part elegy — about what it means to hold on to someone as they slip beyond your reach.
Genres
Characters
MiriProtagonist
LeahProtagonist
MatteoSupporting
A former fisherman and the third crewmate on Leah's submarine expedition, who struggles to hold on to his sanity during their extended isolation underwater.
CarmenSupporting
Miri's friend on land, whose ordinary life outside the relationship throws into relief how isolated Miri has become while caring for Leah.
Polari Prize for Book of the Year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
How is the book structured?
The narrative is divided into five distinct parts that correspond to the vertical zones of the ocean, ranging from the sunlight zone down to the hadal zone. These sections alternate between the perspectives of the two main characters, Leah and Miri, to contrast the events of the deep-sea mission with the domestic aftermath on land.
Did this book win any awards?
The novel was named the overall winner of the 2023 Polari Prize, an award that recognizes excellence in LGBTQ+ literature.
Does this book connect to the author's other work?
The novel expands upon themes and concepts explored in the author's earlier short stories, specifically drawing from the premise of her story Cassandra After, which also features a partner returning from a death-like state.