Editing Notes on a Scandal

{{Short description|Book by Zoë Heller}}
{{For-multi|the 2006 film|Notes on a Scandal (film)|the composition soundtrack by Philip Glass|Notes on a Scandal (soundtrack)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}{{Infobox book | <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] -->
| name          = Notes on a Scandal
| title_orig    = 
| translator    = 
| image         = NotesonaScandalbook.jpg
| image_size    = 226px
| caption = First edition UK cover
| author        = [[Zoë Heller]]
| illustrator   = 
| cover_artist  = 
| country       = United Kingdom
| language      = English
| series        = 
| genre        = [[Fiction]]
| publisher     = Viking
| release_date  = June 5, 2003 (UK)
| english_release_date =
| media_type    = Print ([[Hardcover]] and [[Paperback]])
| pages         = 256 pp
| isbn          = 0-670-91406-1
| oclc= 51912896
| preceded_by   = 
| followed_by   = 
}}

'''''Notes on a Scandal''''' ('''''What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal''''' in the U.S.) is a 2003 novel by [[Zoë Heller]]. It is about a female teacher at a London [[comprehensive school]] who begins an affair with an [[minor (law)|underage]] pupil. Heller said to ''[[The Observer]]'' in 2003 that the real life controversy of American middle-school teacher [[Mary Kay LeTourneau]]'s affair with a student was the inspiration for the novel.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kellaway |first=Kate |author-link=Kate Kellaway |date=28 September 2003 |title=Great expectations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/sep/28/bookerprize2003.thebookerprize |work=[[The Observer]] |accessdate=24 March 2020}}</ref> A [[Notes on a Scandal (film)|film adaptation]] was released in 2006, starring [[Judi Dench]] and [[Cate Blanchett]]. The film received four [[Academy Award]] nominations, including nominations for Dench and Blanchett.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2007/01/23/here-are-2007-oscar-nominees|title=Here are the 2007 Oscar nominees|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|first=Annie|last=Barrett|date=23 January 2007|accessdate=24 March 2020}}</ref>

==Plot summary==

Art teacher Bathsheba "Sheba" Hart falls in love with a 15-year-old pupil, Steven Connolly, who is from a deprived background and has [[Dyslexia|literacy problems]]. Although they frequently have sex in risky places, including at school and in the open on [[Hampstead Heath]], the couple successfully conceal their affair from colleagues and family. Sheba tells her coworker Barbara what has happened between her and Connolly, though she claims that he only tried to kiss her and she discouraged his advances. 

Barbara eventually finds out about the affair on [[Guy Fawkes Night]], when she sees Sheba talking to Connolly on [[Primrose Hill]]. Barbara feels betrayed that Sheba did not confide in her properly and is angered by Sheba's neglect of their friendship. (Barbara is herself a lonely woman whose neediness has driven away more than one potential friend.)

Over time, Connolly's interest in the affair wanes as Sheba's grows. Sheba still does not break off the affair, having become quite enslaved to the now barely interested Connolly. Her obsession continues even after he abandons her for a girl his own age. 

Brian Bangs, a mathematics teacher, asks Barbara to have Saturday lunch with him one day. He confesses his infatuation with Sheba, leading Barbara to realise that he only asked her out to use her as a means to discover information about Sheba's private life. Overcome by [[jealousy]], Barbara alludes to Sheba's secret.

The school's [[head teacher|headmaster]] is somehow informed about the illicit affair. Sheba is [[Suspension (punishment)|suspended]] from her job and charged with [[indecent assault]] on a pupil. Her husband demands that she leave the family home and prevents her from seeing their children, especially their son Ben, who has [[Down syndrome]]. While Sheba's life is quickly disintegrating, Barbara thrives on the new situation, which she considers her chance to prove her qualities as a friend. When the headmaster forces her into early [[retirement]], Barbara gives up the [[lease]] on her own small flat and moves in with Sheba and her brother.

Sheba discovers Barbara has been writing an account of Sheba's relationship with Connolly. She is distraught and furious, not least because Barbara has written about events she did not personally witness, and made judgements about people close to Sheba. She is eventually reconciled with Barbara due to their shared desperation and loneliness. Even now, Barbara uses their desperate circumstances as yet another opportunity to further their relationship, and the mentally weakened Sheba can do little to resist. The novel ends with Sheba, trapped and demoralised, resigning to Barbara's dominance of her.

== Reception ==
Upon release, ''Notes on a Scandal'' was generally well-received among the British press.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Article clipped from The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/151407077/|access-date=15 July 2024 |website=[[Newspapers]]|date=21 June 2003 |page=164 }}</ref> According to ''[[Literary Hub|Book Marks]]'', the book received "rave" reviews based on 7 critic reviews with 4 being "rave" and 3 being "positive".<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Was She Thinking?: Notes on a Scandal
 |url=https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/what-was-she-thinking-notes-on-a-scandal|access-date=16 July 2024 |website=[[Literary Hub|Book Marks]]}}</ref> 

The novel was shortlisted for the 2003 [[Man Booker Prize]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Notes on a Scandal |date=5 June 2003 |url=https://thebookerprizes.com/books/notes-scandal-by |publisher=Man Booker Prize |accessdate=24 March 2020}}</ref> and placed second for the [[Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award]].<ref name=":24">{{Cite web |date=2004-02-03 |title=Barnes & Noble Announces Finalists for Discover Awards |url=https://www.pw.org/content/barnes_amp_noble_announces_finalists_discover_awards |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423151652/https://www.pw.org/content/barnes_amp_noble_announces_finalists_discover_awards |archive-date=April 23, 2024 |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=[[Poets & Writers]] |language=en}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' ranked ''What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal'' #70 in their list of 100 Best Books of the 21st Century.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 September 2019 |title=100 Best Books of the 21st Century |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/21/best-books-of-the-21st-century |work=The Guardian |accessdate=24 March 2020}}</ref> The novel was translated into several languages, including French, Italian, Spanish and German.

== References ==
{{portal|Novels}}
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Novels about ephebophilia]]
[[Category:Novels about infidelity]]
[[Category:2003 British novels]]
[[Category:Fiction with unreliable narrators]]
[[Category:British novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Novels set in London]]
[[Category:Novels set in high schools and secondary schools]]
[[Category:Novels about teachers]]
[[Category:Novels about academic scandals]]
[[Category:Viking Press books]]