Poor Things

The novel begins with the memoirs of Archibald McCandless, a Scottish public health officer, who recounts his friendship with the genius Godwin Baxter.

Godwin resurrects a drowned woman, Bella Baxter, by transplanting the brain of her unborn daughter into her head.

Bella's journey involves her education, elopement with Duncan Wedderburn, and eventual return to Scotland, where she becomes involved in various social and political movements.

The story is framed by multiple narratives, including a letter from McCandless's widow, which critiques the Victorian era and questions the truth of the events described.

The book is a mix of farce, melodrama, and humor, while also being a political novel that explores Scottish national identity, Victorian gender roles, and scientific progress.