Mariette In Ecstasy (1991) by Ron Hansen is a historical fiction novel set in early 20th-century New York, following 17-year-old Mariette Baptiste as she joins a convent and begins experiencing visions and signs of the stigmata. Narrated in third person with an omniscient point of view, the story explores the tension between spiritual devotion, suspicion, and the blurred lines between faith and madness. Mariette’s intense religious experiences both inspire awe and provoke skepticism among the nuns, ultimately leading to her exile after a medical investigation led by her father. The novel was praised for its lyrical prose and haunting themes, and it was adapted into a film in 1996.
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