Louise Six ('s-Graveland, 1862-1934) inherited her aunt's historic country estate Gooilust in 1895. She moves there after marrying her "neighbor" Frans Blaauw (1860-1936), a passionate amateur biologist with an obsession for exotic animals. While his collection of more than 400 animals attracts international visitors, Louise becomes increasingly troubled by his extravagant hobby. Financial problems pile up, and the marriage quickly deteriorates. When Louise sells a few rare animals out of desperation, Frans takes revenge: he has her committed to a sanatorium and tries to have her declared insane in order to gain full control of Gooilust. But Louise comes up with an entirely different plan.... Using letters, court records and thorough research, Jeanette Wagenaar brings this history to life. Gooilust is a compelling book about the silent struggle of a woman who found her voice in a time when that was by no means self-evident.