A Dark-Adapted Eye

A Dark-Adapted Eye (1986) is a psychological thriller novel by Ruth Rendell, written under the nom-de-plume Barbara Vine. The novel won the American Edgar Award. It was adapted as a television film of the same name in 1994 by the BBC.

This article is about the crime novel. For the music album, see Dark Adapted Eye.
A Dark-adapted Eye
First edition (UK)
AuthorBarbara Vine (Ruth Rendell)
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreCrime / Mystery novel / Psychological thriller
Published1986 (Viking/UK)
(Bantam/US)
Media typePrint/Audiobook
Pages304 (paperback)
ISBN0-14-008636-6
OCLC60261763
Followed byA Fatal Inversion 

Plot summary

Largely set during World War II, the story is told by Faith Severn, who at the prompting of a true-crime writer recounts her memories of her aunt, the prim, fastidious, and snobbish Vera Hillyard. Vera's life is initially centred on her beautiful younger sister, Eden, even to the exclusion of her own son, Francis, with whom she has a poor relationship. Later, Vera brings up a second son, Jamie, who is presumed to be Eden's illegitimate child. Vera becomes intensely devoted to Jamie, while Eden marries the scion of a wealthy family.

When Eden is unable to have children with her husband, she begins to demand custody of Jamie, who she claims is being poorly raised by Vera. To the bewilderment and shock of the rest of the family, the custody battle escalates to violent levels, leading to tragedy and a series of disturbing revelations. The question of who is Jamie's biological mother remains in doubt.[1] Eden's actions drive Vera to a violent attack, resulting in Eden's death and Vera's execution for murder.

Adaptation

A Dark-Adapted Eye was dramatised (with the storyline significantly altered) by the BBC in 1994 as part of The Barbara Vine Mysteries.[2] It starred Celia Imrie as Vera, Sophie Ward as Eden, and Helena Bonham-Carter as Faith.[3]

A note on the title

A dark-adapted eye is one that has adjusted to darkness so that it is able to discern objects. In the context of the novel, the title refers to Faith's ability, after many years, to examine and analyse her family's history and its tragedy.

The book includes themes that were common in the novelist's work, including illegitimate births and miscarriages. She refused to reveal details of her personal life, but admitted that one of the incidents in the book was based on a story she had heard in childhood.[4]

References
  1. S. Rowland (19 December 2000). From Agatha Christie to Ruth Rendell: British Women Writers in Detective and Crime Fiction. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-230-59878-2.
  2. "A Dark Adapted Eye (1994)". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  3. Jerry Roberts (5 June 2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Scarecrow Press. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-8108-6378-1.
  4. Andrew Wilson (10 March 2013). "Open and shut case: Is Ruth Rendell finally ready to open up about her puzzling personal life?". The Independent. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
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