to extend Bobbo's prison sentence if he is convicted. Bobbo is found guilty and imprisoned. While a desperate Mary turns toward religion for guidance. Ruth manipulates the entire situation by seducing and corrupting a priest, Father Ferguson, and sending him to Mary. Ruth continues to recreate herself with a variety of aliases and love affairs. Ruth uses her money to change her lifestyle and appearance, undergoing over several years, a series of surgeries to completely restructure her body to be identical to Mary. Mary continues to love Bobbo, spends her entire fortune on Bobbo's trial and finally wastes away, developing cancer and ultimately dying. Before her passing away the mansion is purchased by Ruth. Ruth even attends Mary's funeral, externally looking like her. She hires Mary's former manservant and lover Garcia. Ruth now lives a life of wealth, extravagance, and control, and plans to sexually dominate Bobbo once she secures his release from prison, causing him the misery that he once caused her. Editions Paperback editions of the novel were issued in 1993 by Ballantine Books, New York () and by Sceptre, London (). Sequel A sequel, Death of a She Devil, was released in the U.K. in 2017. In other media Television The novel was adapted in 1986 as an award-winning BBC television serial, starring Patricia Hodge as Mary Fisher, Dennis Waterman as Bobbo and Julie T. Wallace as Ruth, with only minor changes from the book. Movies The novel was adapted less faithfully by Hollywood in 1989 as She-Devil, starring Roseanne Barr as Ruth and Meryl Streep as her adversary, Mary. The 1995 film Sathi Leelavathi has a very similar plot to 1989's She-Devil. Radio The BBC Radio 4 adaptation was broadcast as a Classic Serial on 21 and 28 February 2016, total duration 106 minutes. References External links Fay Weldon discusses The Life and Loves of a She-Devil with Geoff Dunlop – a British Library sound recording 1983 British novels British novels adapted into films Adultery in novels Novels by Fay Weldon Hodder & Stoughton books