New York society is transfixed by the arrival of Madame Zattiany, a woman of dazzling beauty and mysterious past. She captivates the restless journalist Lee Clavering, who finds in her not only glamour but an intellect and will that surpass the fashions of the age. Yet beneath her allure lies a secret born of science and daring—an experiment that defies the boundaries of time itself. As passion ignites and truths unravel, Clavering must confront what it means to love a woman who embodies both youth and age, past and future. Provocative and ahead of its time, Black Oxen explores themes of rejuvenation, female independence, and the collision between tradition and modernity. Hailed as shocking upon its release and praised for its bold imagination, Atherton’s novel remains a striking meditation on love, longevity, and the eternal struggle between body and spirit.