It has been included on both GCSE and A-Level reading lists for education in England and Wales,[1] and was adapted by Winterson into a BAFTA-winning 1990 BBC television drama serial of the same name.

As an adolescent, Jeanette finds herself attracted to another girl, and her mother's group of religious friends subject her and her partner to exorcisms.

[5] The novel is divided into eight sections, each of which is named after one of the first eight books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, and Ruth.

[7] The novel contains references to numerous literary works, historical figures and aspects of popular culture: The novel is interspersed with short stories that bear many resemblances to (and draw influences from) traditional Biblical stories of the Old Testament, tales of Arthurian Legend (specifically to Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur) and other popular fairy tales.

[5] A television adaptation of the book was made and aired by the BBC in 1990, starring Charlotte Coleman and Geraldine McEwan, which won the Prix Italia in 1991.