Uncovering Iris

Stella, adopted at birth, moves from England to Canada following the death of her adoptive parents and the discovery that her live-in boyfriend is gay. On the plane to Toronto she meets Madeleine, whose offer of help to this young and naïve stranger ushers in a remarkable series of events for both women—almost all of which, it transpires, revolve around a woman they do not know they share a deep connection to: Iris Parker.

Intertwining the family sagas of each of its main characters, Uncovering Iris lifts the lid on each of their lives and the circumstances that have shaped them. Spanning many generations of families in twentieth-century Canada, the novel pays particular attention to the fates of women in a dangerously patriarchal world.

With deep insight and compassion, author Karen Hyatt tells the stories of the hardened protagonist, Iris, and those of the many people she has hurt, hindered, and harried in her life as a strong-willed and defiant single woman. What causes a person to become who they are? How do life events change a personality? How can we come to terms with the way we are treated by others, including those whom we love? These are just some of the questions asked and explored in this engaging first novel.