Here's what happened in the book (and the subsequent movie and miniseries):
* A School Trip: In 1900, a group of schoolgirls from Appleyard College, along with their teachers, embark on a picnic to Hanging Rock, a mysterious rock formation in the Australian bush.
* The Disappearance: During the day, four girls (Miranda, Marion, Irma, and Sara) and one teacher (Miss McCraw) vanish without a trace.
* The Mystery: The disappearance causes a major scandal, as the girls were well-respected students and the teacher was beloved. The authorities search for them, but find no evidence. Theories abound, including theories of witchcraft, abduction, and even time travel.
* The Open Ending: The novel ends with a sense of mystery and ambiguity. The fate of the missing girls is never fully revealed.
Important Note: While the book is a work of fiction, Hanging Rock is a real place in Victoria, Australia. However, there is no record of any actual disappearances or unusual events there.
The story has been adapted into several films and miniseries, most notably:
* Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975): A critically acclaimed film that captures the mystery and the eerie atmosphere of the novel.
* Picnic at Hanging Rock (2018): A miniseries that delves deeper into the characters and their motivations, and offers its own interpretation of the events.
The story continues to fascinate readers and viewers because of its ambiguity and its exploration of themes of time, mystery, and the power of the unknown.