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| Author | Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell) |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Crime / Mystery novel |
| Publisher | Viking |
| Publication date | March 1 1986 |
| Media type | Print/Audiobook |
| Pages | 304 (paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0140086366 |
| Followed by | A Fatal Inversion |
A Dark-Adapted Eye is a 1986 novel by British writer Ruth Rendell, written under the name Barbara Vine. The novel won the American Edgar award.
Plot summary
Largely set during World War II, the story is told by Faith Severn, who at the prompting of a true-crime writer recounts her memories of her aunt, the prim, fastidious, and snobbish Vera Hillyard. Vera's life is initially centred on her beautiful younger sister, Eden, even to the exclusion of her own son, Francis, with whom she has a poor relationship. Later, Vera has a second son, Jamie, to whom she is intensely devoted, while Eden marries the scion of a wealthy family. When Eden is unable to have children with her husband, she begins to demand custody of Jamie, who she claims is being poorly raised by Vera. To the bewilderment and shock of the rest of the family, the custody battle escalates to violent levels, leading to tragedy and a series of disturbing revelations.
TV adaptation
A Dark-Adapted Eye was dramatised (with the storyline significantly altered) by the BBC in 1994. The production starred Helena Bonham-Carter as Faith, Celia Imrie as Vera, Sophie Ward as Eden, and Steven Mackintosh as Francis.
