The Vivisectors by Missouri Williams review – twisted love story from a cult writer
Missouri Williams's novel, The Vivisectors, presents a darkly absurd tale set in a decaying university town. The story follows Agathe, a cynical young woman navigating her troubled family dynamics and a budding romance. As the narrative unfolds, themes of identity, trauma, and societal decay emerge amidst a backdrop of lush, overwhelming vegetation.
- ▪The Vivisectors is Missouri Williams's second novel, following her debut, The Doloriad.
- ▪The story is set in an unnamed university town, characterized by rampant vegetation and decay.
- ▪Agathe, the protagonist, struggles with her family's issues and her own cynical worldview.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Missouri Williams. Photograph: Rachel ScottView image in fullscreenMissouri Williams. Photograph: Rachel ScottBooksReviewThe Vivisectors by Missouri Williams review – twisted love story from a cult writerWilliams follows her prize-winning debut with a gothically overstuffed tale of a cynical young woman in a crumbling university townIan MaleneyTue 26 May 2026 04.00 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleMissouri Williams’s darkly absurd and wilfully grotesque debut novel, The Doloriad, concerned itself with the aftermath of a world-shattering catastrophe. Her second takes place in what feels like the beginning of one.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Guardian — Books.
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