The Yoke: A Novel

Marion Gilbert's novel Le Joug (The Yoke) won the 1926 Bookman Prize, the 1937 prix du Président de la République, and was a finalist for the Femina Prize. Set in the heart of Normandy at the end of the 19th century, The Yoke tells the story of sisters, Fanny and Bertha, whose lives are turned upside down when their mother dies, leaving behind a mysterious letter, which reveals a secret Fanny had buried for years. The unexpected hope Fanny initially finds in the letter very quickly transforms into a burden that keeps her from living. Fanny has always followed the conventions imposed on her by her mother and society, but as she searches for love, she tries to free herself from the yoke of society's expectations. The Yoke is a powerful exploration the feminine condition.