Controversial novel imagines a parallel life for Hillary Clinton, in which she dumps Bill, watches his presidential dreams FAIL and finds herself accused of sexual harassment (but eventually beats Trump to the White House)

A controversial new work of fiction carves out a parallel life for Hillary Clinton, one in which she turns down Bill Clinton's proposal and makes her own quest for political glory as a single woman. 

Author Curtis Sittenfeld, who's new book Rodham was released yesterday, admits that some of the novel's 'preposterous' plotlines might leave the former First Lady more than a little shocked at how her life turned out in Sittenfeld's imagination.  

The 44-year-old scribe sends history careering off course in the 421-page book, with Bill Clinton's 1992 bid to be president nosediving without Hillary by his side, meaning Trump never makes it to the White House either. 

While Cincinnati-born writer Sittenfield says she hopes the former First Lady will make her new book her chosen bedtime reading at some point, she admits there are sections of it that are likely to make her wince. 

What if? Hillary Clinton is the subject of a new novel by Cincinnati author Curtis Sittenfeld which imagines a different, fictional life for the former first lady

Published on Tuesday by Random House, Rodham carves out a life for Hillary Rodham in which she refuses to marry Bill Clinton and embarks upon getting to the White House as a single, childless woman

What would Hillary make of it? Sittenfeld admits that some of the plot lines are 'preposterous' in her work and that some of it is also 'wishful thinking' on her part

Much of the first chapter, The Catch, doesn't meddle too much with fact, seeing Hillary fall deeply in love with an outspoken Arkansas student, described by Sittenfeld an 'leonine', while the pair are both studying at Yale in the early Seventies. 

After a stint in San Francisco, Hillary heads back to Fayetteville and Bill begins his political dreams that he hopes will one day lead him to the White House. 

So far, so good, until the author puts the handbrake on reality and veers off into fiction, with the heroine of the book deciding to flee her boyfriend's home state. 

The fictional story sees Hillary ditching would-be president Bill after learning of his indiscretions with other women and heading out on her own.

By the second chapter, set in 1991, Hillary is in Chicago and an accomplished law professor, making the first steps to the White House. 

In the book, a young female aide alleges that Hillary once asked her to 'kneel on the floor of the taxi and shave her legs for her', saying the incident left her 'humiliated and violated'...

It's not all plain sailing, as you might imagine. 

Later in the book, there's a clinical approach to other liaisons with suitors she meets, including the cringe-worthy line: 'The wisdom of procuring not only lubricant but also condoms occurred to me.'

And, by the final chapter, Hillary is dragged over hot coals in a courtroom over an alleged sexual harassment charge dating back two decades. 

In the book, a young female aide alleges that Hillary once asked her to 'kneel on the floor of the taxi and shave her legs for her', saying the incident left her 'humiliated and violated.'  

In the first chapter of the fictional work, Hillary does indeed fall for a young 'leonine' Bill Clinton...but refuses his proposal of marriage 

Other far-fetched plot lines in the book include Hillary being accused of both murdering her ex boyfriend and also enjoying a clandestine relationship with a long-term female friend

The heroine of Sittenfeld's novel does follow Hillary's real-life trajectory in trying to be the first American woman to hold office

Rodham is Sittenfeld's second imagined portrait of a famous woman. 

Her first, American Wife, was based on the life of Laura Bush and was published in in 2008.

Explaining how she came to write up Clinton's life as a piece of fiction, Sittenfeld told the Associated Press: 'I was definitely an admirer of Hillary before I started the book, but writing from her perspective made me feel closer to her.

'I realize that closeness is NOT mutual - we've never met. But she feels very familiar to me now in terms of the trajectory of her life, her relationships, her syntax, so when I see clips of her or hear her voice, I think, 'Oh, that´s my Hillary.'"

Elsewhere in the book, Sittenfeld's version of Hillary stays single, and is accused of both murdering her ex boyfriend and also enjoying a clandestine relationship with a long-term female friend. 

FACT FROM FICTION: HOW HILLARY AND BILL CLINTON'S MARRIAGE SURVIVED THE LEWINSKY AFFAIR

On December 19, 1998, Bill Clinton was impeached for lying under oath after he failed to come clean about an affair he was having with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Earlier this year, Bill spoke of his gratitude that Hillary did not leave him after the affair - but concedes his wife has 'paid' for the decision.

Hillary and Bill Clinton, before his impeachment, pose with daughter Chelsea after her graduation from Sidwell University

The couple had 'painful' marriage guidance sessions after his affair with intern Monica Lewinsky in 1998 but have stayed together

Holding back tears, the former president said: 'I was so grateful that she thought we still had enough to stick it out. God knows the burden she's paid for that.'

In the recent documentary on Hulu about Hillary Clinton, Bill claimed the affair with Lewinsky was one of the 'things I did to manage my anxieties'.

The former President suggested that he had the fling with the ex-White House intern while he was in office because it helped with his own issues.

Bill reveals that at the time he met Lewinsky the pressure of the job made him feel like a boxer who had done 30 rounds and he looked at Lewinsky as 'something that will take your mind off it for a while'.

The former First Lady and Secretary of State candidly reveals that in the aftermath of the scandal the couple underwent 'painful' marriage counseling.

Explaining how she'd feel if Clinton read her work, which she describes as 'an act of imagination, creativity' and 'to some extent wishful thinking, the author says: 'If Hillary wants to read the book, she's very welcome to and I'd be happy to hear her feedback (even if she thinks parts of it are preposterous), and if she doesn't want to, I don't blame her.'  

She said she was inspired to write a fictional account because it gave her 'the chance to ask not "What do the American people think of Hillary?" but "What does Hillary think of the American people?"'

Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld is out now and published by Random House Books