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The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

The Essex Serpent

by Sarah Perry

  • Critics' Consensus (3):
  • Readers' Rating (20):
  • Published:
  • Jun 2017, 432 pages
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There are currently 20 reader reviews for The Essex Serpent
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Deborah M. (Chambersburg, PA)

Best Reading Experience So Far This Year
What a wonderful novel! When I began it, I was afraid it was going to turn out to be some kind of fantasy or magical realism--neither of which I enjoy. But this is a novel as driven by character and ideas as by plot, and the writing is absolutely beautiful. Sarah Perry also has a gift for creating an atmosphere that totally draws the reader into a specific time and place--in this case, London and the small Essex town of Aldwinter in the 1890s.

Cora Seaborne, newly widowed, seems to have ambivalent feelings about her deceased husband, a wealthy, powerful, but cruel man. In some ways, he shaped her into a newmore
Nikki M. (Fort Wayne, IN)

Seriously good read!
I can see why this has so much buzz across the pond. I am sure it will see much success here upon its release. The characters were amazingly realistic and fleshed out. Pick this one up and give it a few pages to pull you in, you won't regret it!
Susan B. (Rutledge, MO)

excellent intriguing read
This book wasn't quite what I expected, but I really enjoyed what I got: a well-written, intriguing, sometimes creepy, feels-real story. It is very much written for an English audience-- there were many historical, place and other references that I as an American didn't get. This may be a feature or a bug for you, but I found that it didn't get in the way of my enjoying the story.
Lynda C. (Sault Sainte Marie, MI)

The Essex Serpent
Enjoying The Essex Serpent has been one of the most outstanding reading experiences I have had in a very long time. I read many, many books across a variety of genres and this one is truly superior.
I found myself entranced by the incandescent use of language - and either stopped frequently to savour a word, a sentence, or an idea; or read on a few pages and went back to re-read something that had caught my attention. This is something that rarely happens in my reading experience.
The characters - all of the characters - are unforgettable!
Each character is so finely drawn and complete in their physical,more
Eileen F. (Green Valley, AZ)

The Essex Serpent
Sarah Perry has created a novel with very visual descriptions of her characters and the environments they are in. The characters are all unique and most represent different value systems. The story shows how people can be influenced by rumor and tales of the unknown.
Terri O. (Chapel Hill, NC)

Highly recommended
The Essex Serpent is a beautifully written novel that explores such themes as love and friendship, science and religion, reason and superstition, freedom and powerlessness, and poverty and wealth, set against the divergent backdrops of bustling London and rural Essex in the late 1800s.

Sarah Perry skillfully brings to life a cast of late Victorian characters that are far from the buttoned-up prudes one might expect, endowing them with complicated interior and exterior lives. They seem both of their time and timeless, and the complex relationships among the characters are presented with both depth and compassion.more
Priscilla M. (Houston, TX)

A hugely entertaining read!
The Essex Serpent has something for every reader. It is a melange of mystery, historical fiction, love story, and Victorian period piece. The characters are complex yet engaging, and the reader is easily swept up into their struggles and triumphs. I found myself rooting for Cora as she evolved from abused wife to independent, joyous woman. This book is a definite must read for anyone looking for a well-told tale that is rich in atmosphere and multi-layered story lines.
Jan B. (Tetonia, ID)

The Essex Serpent
This is a beautiful and brilliantly written story. Beneath this story of Victorian England, and the adventures of Cora as she plunges out into the world, lies the exploration of relationships. The author explores the idea of different types of friendships using everyone, and weaves a beautiful story of change, betrayal, and its impact on others and the self. She exquisitely renders the joys, the uncertainties and the underlying internal dialogues that accompany these friendships making this a multi-layered and very interesting read.
I think it could be a great book group read. It is masterfully written and it ismore
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