Published May 27th, 2016 by Serpent’s Tail
Historical Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Historical Romance
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ABOUT THE BOOK:
THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER
Overall Book of the Year and Fiction Book of the Year at the British Book Awards 2017 (Nibbies)
Longlisted for the 2017 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction
The Waterstones Book of the Year 2016
Shortlisted for the 2016 Costa Novel Award
‘One of the most memorable historical novels of the past decade’ Sunday Times
London 1893. When Cora Seaborne’s husband dies, she steps into her new life as a widow with as much relief as sadness: her marriage was not a happy one, and she never suited the role of society wife. Accompanied by her son Francis – a curious, obsessive boy – she leaves town for Essex, where she hopes fresh air and open space will provide the refuge they need.
When they take lodgings in Colchester, rumours reach them from further up the estuary that the mythical Essex Serpent, once said to roam the marshes claiming human lives, has returned to the coastal parish of Aldwinter. Cora, a keen amateur naturalist with no patience for religion or superstition, is immediately enthralled, convinced that what the local people think is a magical beast may be a previously undiscovered species. As she sets out on its trail, she is introduced to William Ransome, Aldwinter’s vicar.
Like Cora, Will is deeply suspicious of the rumours, but he thinks they are founded on moral panic, a flight from real faith. As he tries to calm his parishioners, he and Cora strike up an intense relationship, and although they agree on absolutely nothing, they find themselves inexorably drawn together and torn apart, eventually changing each other’s lives in ways entirely unexpected.
Told with exquisite grace and intelligence, this novel is most of all a celebration of love, and the many different guises it can take.
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MY REVIEW:
1893. Amateur naturalist Cora Seaborne moves to the small coastal parish of Aldwinter, Essex, with her son, Francis, following the death of her husband. For years, Cora has heard tell of the mythical Essex Serpent that haunts the parish and is determined to find proof of its existence. As she sets out on its trail, she meets William Ranscome, Aldwinter’s vicar, who is suspicious of the rumours and believes they are a distraction from faith. As he tries to calm his parishioner’s fears, Will and Cora forge an intense and unexpected bond. They agree on nothing – she is a woman of science and he a man of faith – but they find themselves drawn to one another and begin to work together to try to solve the mystery.
Dark, haunting and atmospheric, this is a sumptuous piece of gothic Victoriana. One of my bookish goals this year is to read more of the books languishing on my shelves, which is why I finally picked up this book. It was my introduction to Sarah Perry’s writing and I am an instant fan. Perry knows how to captivate her audience, blending luscious prose, evocative imagery, a menacing atmosphere, historical detail and richly drawn characters to create a story that that unfurls slowly, giving us just the right amount of information we need to feel satisfied while keeping us guessing about the full picture.
Rich in gothic vibes, this is a story soaked in old magic with a whisper of the supernatural. It taps into the strangeness that can exist in our world, bringing to mind legends like that of the Loch Ness Monster. The Essex Serpent snakes through the story, causing an almost constant unbearable sense of dread as its menacing presence stalks this small coastal village. Tragedy sweeps through the village and people blame the serpent. But is the legend real? Perry explores both sides of this and the science vs religion debate through her main characters. Cora believes the legend is real and wants to prove it, while Will doesn’t believe and thinks the legend is damaging people’s faith. Perry allows the reader to make up their own mind about where they land rather than taking one side over the other.
The characters in this story are compelling, flawed and deeply human. Cora is an unusual Victorian woman, but that is precisely why I loved her so much. Plucky, bold and courageous, she is finally spreading her wings after her abusive and controlling marriage. I loved her close relationship with her son and her passion for science and was Team Cora every step on the way. Meanwhile, Will was someone it took me a little more time to warm up to. I found him standoffish and couldn’t get my head around a vicar who was okay with his attraction to another woman outside his marriage, whatever the status of that marriage may be. However, I did enjoy the complex relationship the two shared and loved how they would banter and debate, their steadfast but opposing beliefs making it all the more entertaining to read. There was also a cast of great background characters who were just as compelling and entertaining as the main characters. I particularly enjoyed reading Francis, Cora’s son, and Martha, her servant and confidant.
An imaginative and eerie gothic tale that will stay with you long after reading, this is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sarah Perry is the internationally best selling author of the novels Melmoth, The Essex Serpent, and After Me Comes the Flood, and the non-fiction Essex Girls. She is a winner of the Waterstone’s Book of the Year Awards and the British Book Awards, and has been nominated for major literary prizes including the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the Dylan Thomas Prize, the Folio Prize and the Costa Novel Award. Her essays have been widely published, and she has contributed to the Guardian, the New York Times, the Observer, and the London Review of Books. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and has a PhD in Creative Writing, and has been a UNESCO City of Literature Writer in Residence in Prague, and a Writer in Residence at Gladstone’s Library and the Savoy Hotel in London. Her second novel, the No 1 bestseller The Essex Serpent, is currently being adapted for television, starring Claire Danes in the lead role.
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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx
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