Affinity

Affinity is a novel by British author Sarah Waters, first published in 1999. It explores a dark period in the lonely life of Margaret Prior, a youngish spinster from a wealthy English family. Margaret begins visiting a women's prison as a means of escaping her own ennui and in the hopes of being a positive role model for the inmates. There she meets a young prisoner, Selina, with whom she becomes infatuated. But it is unclear what the mysterious inmate's motives are...

A film adaptation followed in 2008.


 * Adaptation Distillation: The TV adaptation replaced  with.
 * Angst
 * Butch Lesbian:
 * Dark and Troubled Past: most of the characters in the story.
 * Driven to Suicide: A year before the novel begins, Margaret attempts a fatal overdose of sleeping medicine after learning that her female lover is planning on marrying her (Margaret's) brother.
 * Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: Margaret is one.
 * Gaol Time: Margaret spends a lot of time in Millbank Prison, as does the prisoner in whom she takes an interest.
 * Gayngst: The primary source of Margaret's depression, following her ex-lover's marriage to Margaret's own brother.
 * Psychic Powers: Selina works as a psychic medium, and claims to commune with spirits.
 * Queer Romance: Between Margaret and Selina and Margaret and Helen..
 * Spooky Seance: Selina works as a spirit medium before being sent to Millbank.
 * Victorian Britain: set in this era, and very much characteristic of its darker elements.
 * Victorian London