The Ha-Ha A Novel

A prizewinning, semi-autobiographical debut novel that explores a young woman’s struggle with mental illness at Oxford University in the 1950s—for readers of Ottessa Moshfegh, Melissa Broder, and Sally Rooney.

“I wanted the knack of existing. I did not know the rules.”

These words from Josephine, the heroine of Jennifer Dawson’s remarkable novel, encapsulate the journey of a young woman grappling with mental illness amidst the hallowed halls of Oxford University in the 1950s. Originally published in 1961, this novel met with critical acclaim, and is a rediscovered classic perfect for fans of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar.

During her first year at university, Josephine experiences a breakdown following the death of her overbearing but beloved mother. She’s confined to a psychiatric institution, where she encounters the harsh forms of treatment offered at that time. Amidst the turmoil, she finds an unexpected connection with Alasdair, a fellow patient, igniting a journey towards recovery.

Praised as “luminous” by The New York Times and “a singular, elegant novel” by The Guardian, and with a new introduction by Milk Fed author Melissa Broder, The Ha-Ha offers a moving and fresh perspective on struggles with mental health and the process of self-discovery.

Jennifer Dawson (1929–2000) was an English novelist. She studied at Oxford, where she suffered a breakdown and spent several months in a hospital. After graduating in 1954, Dawson worked as a teacher in a convent in France; a welfare worker in London’s East End; and a social worker in a psychiatric hospital. Her experience both as a mental health professional and a patient formed the basis for her 1961 acclaimed debut novel The Ha-Ha, which won that year’s James Tait Black Memorial Prize as well as being adapted for the stage and broadcast by the BBC on radio and television. Over her lifetime Dawson wrote six more novels, a collection of short stories, and coauthored a children’s book.