Scotland and the Suffragettes with Ajay Close

In her riveting new novel the Orange-Prize longlisted author Ajay Close takes on the tale of famed Suffragette Arabella Scott.

Arabella, suffragette and hunger striker, is held in solitary confinement for five weeks, force-fed by the prison doctor, Hugh Ferguson Watson. Two years later, his wife, Donella, is trapped in a sexless marriage with a man haunted by the past.What happened between the doctor and his prisoner patient? Fifty years on, Donella is still trying to find out.Petrol Scented Spring is a riveting novel of repression, jealousy and love, and the struggle for women’s emancipation. Join us in discovering more about Scotland’s distinctive relationship with votes for women and hear how Ajay novelized this extraordinary piece of our history!

One of our Book Week Scotland celebrations!