The Flaw in the Crystal

The Flaw in the Crystal, written by May Sinclair in the early 20th century, follows Agatha Verrall and her complicated relationship with Rodney Lanyon, who is trapped in a troubled marriage with his mentally distressed wife, Bella. The novel delves into themes of love, mental illness, and Agatha's mysterious psychic abilities that allow her to influence Rodney's well-being. Sinclair's work is notable for blending elements of paranormal fiction with psychological insights, marking her as a precursor to modernist writers like Virginia Woolf.