Katherine Ashenburg est une autrice de non-fiction primée dont l'œuvre couvre des sujets allant des voyages aux coutumes funéraires en passant par l'architecture. Elle est reconnue pour sa profonde curiosité à l'égard des pratiques humaines et de l'histoire, souvent abordées sous un angle inattendu. Ashenburg explore la relation ambivalente de la société avec divers aspects de la vie et de la mort, insufflant à ses écrits une analyse pleine d'entrain. Sa prose est habile et captivante, offrant aux lecteurs de nouvelles perspectives sur des phénomènes familiers et moins connus.
Exploring the complexities of unexpected relationships, this novel follows a journalist who finds herself in an unusual bond with her ex-husband's wife. Blending humor and emotional depth, it captures the nuances of love, friendship, and the entangled lives of modern women. With a style reminiscent of Nora Ephron, the story offers a fresh perspective on family dynamics and personal growth, making it both relatable and entertaining.
'I return to Paris in five days. Stop washing.' So wrote Napoleon to Josephine in an age when body odour was considered an aphrodisiac. In stark contrast, the Romans used to bath for hours each day. Ashenburg's investigation of history's ambivalence towards personal hygiene takes her through plague-ridden streets, hospitals and battlefields. From the bizarre prescriptions of doctors to the eccentricities of famous bathers, she presents us with all the twists and turns that have led us to our own, arbitrary notion of 'clean'.