The silence factory : a novel

Summary: Sophia reluctantly accompanies her husband James to a remote Greek island, where he hopes to make his name by collecting rare biological specimens. Once there, however, she is the one set on a voyage of discovery -- as well as stumbling across the very creature he is looking for, she meets a local woman who makes her realise she has never truly known her own desires. Decades later, Henry Latimer is sent to the home of James' descendant, industrialist Sir Edward Ashmore-Percy. Tasked with curing the man's enchanting young daughter, Philomel, of her deafness, Henry is soon drawn in by both Sir Edward's magnetic charisma and the fascinating nature of his business: spinning a rare spider-silk into a cloth which has the extraordinary ability to shut out sound completely. Ignoring repeated warnings, Henry becomes more deeply involved with Sir Edward's project -- by the time he realises the terrible truth about what the silk will be used for, is it too late to turn back?