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    The Essex Serpent: A Novel
    The Essex Serpent: A Novel
    The Essex Serpent: A Novel
    Audiobook14 hours

    The Essex Serpent: A Novel

    Written by Sarah Perry

    Narrated by Juanita McMahon

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    NOW AN APPLE TV+ SERIES

    A Washington Post Notable Work of Fiction * Winner of the British Book Awards Fiction Book of the Year and overall Book of the Year *A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of The Year * Waterstones Book of the Year * Costa Book Award Finalist

    “A novel of almost insolent ambition—lush and fantastical, a wild Eden behind a garden gate...it’s part ghost story and part natural history lesson, part romance and part feminist parable. I found it so transporting that 48 hours after completing it, I was still resentful to be back home.” —New York Times

    London, 1893. When Cora Seaborne’s brilliant, domineering husband dies, she steps into her new life as a widow with as much relief as sadness: her marriage was an unhappy one, and she never suited the role of society wife. Seeking refuge in fresh air and open space, she leaves the metropolis for coastal Essex, accompanied by her inquisitive and obsessive eleven-year-old son, Francis, and the boy’s nanny, Martha, her fiercely protective friend. 

    Once there, they hear rumors that after nearly three hundred years, the mythical Essex Serpent, a fearsome creature that once roamed the marshes, has returned. When a young man is mysteriously killed on New Year’s Eve, the community’s dread transforms to terror. Cora, a keen amateur naturalist with no patience for religion or superstition, is immediately enthralled, certain that what locals think is a magical sea beast may be a previously undiscovered species. 

    Eager to investigate, she is introduced to parish vicar William Ransome, who is equally suspicious of the rumors but for different reasons: a man of faith, he is convinced the alarming reports are caused by moral panic, a flight from the correct and righteous path. As Cora and William attempt to discover the truth about the Essex Serpent’s existence, these seeming opposites find themselves inexorably drawn together in an intense relationship that will change both of them in ways entirely unexpected. And as they search for answers, Cora’s London past follows her to the coast, with striking consequences. 

    Told with exquisite grace and intelligence, The Essex Serpent masterfully explores questions of science and religion, skepticism and faith, but it is most of all a celebration of love, and the many different—and surprising—guises it can take.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJun 6, 2017
    ISBN9780062676634
    The Essex Serpent: A Novel
    Author

    Sarah Perry

    Sarah Perry is the internationally bestselling author of The Essex Serpent, Melmoth, and After Me Comes the Flood. She lives in England.

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    Reviews for The Essex Serpent

    3.5/5

    1,012 ratings110 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Interesting plot with several twists and turns ( no pun intended) whilst overlaying the development of the key characters.
      The background history of London’s outcast poor provides a backdrop against which the Essex village folk are mirrored. Whether it was as cut off from London as the author suggests at the end of the 1800’s we can only assume. Too much was made of Stella and too little of Luke’s role in society post injury. Felt it was too sentimental at the end.
      Very earthy you can almost taste the mud and smell the sea at Essex. Makes for a fast read as an easy style. Makes a difference to trying to slog through the normally dense 19 th century style of writing.
    • 5/5
      A mid nineteenth century exploration of strange events. Seaside fogs and superstitions weave together to n reveal local personalities and events.
    • 3/5
      Preliminary notes: about 60 pages in, having to force myself to keep reading. I finally figured out why: I dislike all the characters.

      On finishing: It was worth reading but rather sad throughout.
    • 5/5
      Beautifully written book. I really enjoyed the deliberate pacing and the interesting commentary on fear.
    • 5/5
      This story is so ridiculously beautiful. Somehow it manages to show every beautiful and awful part of humanity and doesn’t leave you disillusioned in anyway. It is warm and bright and sad and cold at once. It is the way I feel about living and the way I want to be remembered when I’m gone. I’m not even sure that any of that makes sense except that it encapsulates my feelings, mostly. This book has somehow become my friend. Thanks to the author for that.
    • 5/5
      Such a satisfying gothic book. Neither overly sentimental nor brutal. And with no neatly wrapped-up stories … but a lot of satisfaction nonetheless. Enjoy!
    • 5/5
      Oh wow, this book… I don’t have the words to describe it but let’s just say it was amazing. The writing, the story, the narrator, all just incredible!
      I also downloaded the book because I wanted to read some of the phrases and noticed that the audio book does not start with the introduction. I recommend reading that before listening since it will make more sense.
      I highly recommend this book!
    • 5/5
      One of my enjoyable reads in years.
    • 4/5
      Sarah Perry’s writing evokes the flavor of the Victorian gothic novel while elevating the prose to a higher standard. She intermingles the lives and storylines of a varied set of characters without pushing too hard for a desired outcome. Although some characters aren’t as clearly defined as others, this never detracts from the overall narrative. If you’re a fan of well-written British historical fiction, Perry’s serpent is sure to delight.
    • 5/5
      A hymn to the simple humanity in otherwise complex characters. I was riveted from beginning to end.
    • 4/5
      I was initially put off this book by the themes of science and religion, thinking it would be the usual clash between two modes of thought that I have never seen as incompatible. However I am glad I was persuaded to give it a try. The story centres around rumours of a flying serpent living in the marshes, and different people's attitudes to it, as well as the relationships between them. There is no violent clash between differing world views, only mutual respect and conversation. This is historical fiction and suffers rather from putting modern ideals and attitudes in the minds of a previous generation, but that did not spoil my enjoyment.
    • 5/5
      Gleaming prose, that brings the English countryside and those who populate it to vigorous life. The reader is particularly adept at capturing the wide variety of voices in the text; I thoroughly recommend listening!
    • 4/5
      An interesting description of the many aspects of being liberated as a woman
    • 5/5
      The narrator shines in this audiobook. Her diction and cadence are perfect for this story. She narrates in voices and accents distinctive for each character. I am sometimes annoyed when a narrator does that, but not this one.
      The many and divers characters are the heart and soul of this story. There are lots of them: men, women, boys, girls, living, dying, dead, and resurrected. Between the author and the narrator, each had their own story within the story they had together.
      Highly recommended for story, poetic and emotional writing, and excellent narration.
    • 5/5
      What a wonderful novel. I loved the Victorian setting, the mythic quality to the plot, the sense of place, the downright beautiful turns of phrase that jump out at you in every other paragraph, and the intriguing, complex characters. Yes, the pacing can be slow, but I found that this helped me to concentrate on and savour the fantastic writing all the more. I will definitely read more of Sarah Perry's work!
    • 1/5
      What a pile of shit. Hated every moment of it
    • 3/5
      The Short of It:Not exactly what I expected but entertaining nonetheless.The Rest of It:London, 1893. When Cora Seaborne’s brilliant, domineering husband dies, she steps into her new life as a widow with as much relief as sadness: her marriage was an unhappy one, and she never suited the role of society wife. Seeking refuge in fresh air and open space, she leaves the metropolis for coastal Essex, accompanied by her inquisitive and obsessive eleven-year-old son, Francis, and the boy’s nanny, Martha, her fiercely protective friend. ~ IndieboundWhat makes this story interesting is that it also includes a mythical creature, the Essex serpent. After years of rumors, a man shows up dead and once again the town is convinced that the serpent is back to its tricks.As you’re reading though, whether or not this creature actually exists is left up to the reader. Does the creature represent something or more specifically, someone in the story? I found this story to be very readable and read it in one afternoon but I found the characters to be unremarkable. We picked it for book club and there wasn’t that much to discuss but some of the members have seen the series adaptation and so had some good comparisons to share.Have you read it? I think I expected it to be more adventurous.For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.
    • 3/5
      Historical fiction set England in the late 19th century, this novel is centered around a recently-widowed young woman, Cora, who has temporarily relocated from London to a small town in the country. Due to unexplained deaths and sicknesses, the townspeople have revived a 17th century legend involving the Essex Serpent. The local rector attempts to combat their superstitious inclinations. Other important characters include Cora’s eccentric young son, her companion and son’s former nanny, the vicar’s wife and children, a childless couple, the doctor for Cora’s deceased husband, and the doctor's colleague.

      I had mixed feelings about this book. I found it less a mystery than an exploration of the complexities of interpersonal relationships. The characters are interesting but not particularly well-developed. For me, the plot is unfocused, and there is not much action. About half way, I found myself wondering if the pace would pick up. It did, but only slightly. Place and time are important to the story. Although recently written, the language is vividly evocative of a 19th century Victorian novel, and the author excels at descriptions that bring the scenes to life, especially those related to the natural environment. Philosophical questions such as the interplay of religious faith vs. science and the various motivations for improving the dreadful living conditions of the urban poor are explored, but unfortunately, not in much depth. For me, the book was more successful in portraying the boundaries of friendship, the risks involved in advancing medical science, and the expanding role of women in Victorian times. Recommended to readers of Victorian novels.
    • 3/5
      Although somewhat interesting, this is a slow moving book full of people with repressed feelings. Set in the 19th century in London and Essex (obviously), it relates the story of a bit of popular hysteria in a small village. At the same time, the parson, a man of education, and a woman from London almost, allllmost strike up a relationship, hindered onnly by the parson's loyalty to his tubercular wife and his morality.For people interested in 19th century mores, have at it.
    • 3/5
      The best thing that I can say about this book is that the language and illustrative text is wonderful. That made the story very atmospheric and creepy for the first half of the book. After that it lost me somewhat. I found that I was trying to skip ahead to get to more action. This book was a gift and I've had it for a few years, so thought I should read it. it is set in England in the Victorian era, but honestly I did not see much description about the social, political and moral incidents at all in this book. That is why I wouldn't categorize it an historical fiction book. I realize that Ms Perry built the book around a true-life happening in Essex at this time as proven by the extensive newspaper articles about the The Essex Serpent at the back of the book. I was also disappointed with the ending. It just made the book so pointless really. I gave the book three stars because of the writing skills and language throughout, but I really can't recommend this book.
    • 4/5
      What an odd book. I liked it, but I'm struggling to say why. I suspect I've just been fed literary fiction disguised as something more palatable and mainstream, wrapped in an irresistible cover. The two most overwhelming impressions I took away from the book are poetry and allegory. Poetry in the form of the prose in the opening pages of the story, where it's so heavy with lyrical verse as to be cloying, and again in the opening pages of each section, where it's dialled down but still more melody than verse. Allegory, because the story feels like the author's way of working out the balance between faith and empiricism, if not for the reader, then perhaps as an exercise for herself. On a literal level, the story is, as I said, odd. The reader is held at such a remove from the characters, it's hard to feel any emotional investment in any of them. I liked Cora and Will and Stella, but the rest? I'm afraid I really don't understand the point of Luke's part, and for me, Perry utterly failed to convince me that Frankie was anything more or less than a selfish and spoiled boy. Martha, too, struck me as nothing more than a narcissist, caring more about her duty than the people she is fighting for. For me, the most convincing character of the lot was the pan-handler, Taylor. Still, it's a beautiful, richly told story, if one is willing to experience it as the distance the author holds it. Looked at too closely, it's flawed, but hold it back far enough to fuzz the edges and it's gorgeous.
    • 4/5
      Although the characters weren't very memorable, they were worth following through this story where the serpent is a metaphor for something, perhaps a focus for fear. Highly readable, the first chapter was best in referencing other fiction, making the reader feel smart. It is not, as some review say, either highly Victorian or very Gothic, except in spirit.
    • 5/5
      I was caught off guard at first, being so used to books stating everything plainly like, 'look, here's the deal'. I thought I must have gotten distracted and missed things after reading the first chapter and went back and reread it, but no, that's really just how it was. Subtly showing the reader more often than telling. You're almost collecting clues to string together for meaning. Or handed puzzle pieces and it's up to you to arrange them into the correct picture. It is very different from most books! Some 'reading between the lines' required, but it's worth it. I think people are probably likely to either feel dumb and lost, or feel clever and intrigued. For me, it was a very nice break from being beaten over the head with an author's point, 'and once more for the people who missed it the first three times!...'. It was almost like a vote of confidence shown in the intelligence of her readers.

      The tone is a bit sobering I think, sometimes a little raw feeling, but life isn't all sanitized and easy and joyful all the time, so I appreciated the truth of it. The start was a bit slow for me, but it got increasingly more interesting. There was also a poetry in the words chosen and arranged. I am impressed.

      Also Juanita McMahon does a wonderful reading in the audiobook!
    • 4/5
      after nearly two months, i finally finished this book! not the book's fault. i am just not in a place where i can appreciate and devour the story. as such, much of its nuances went over me.that said, i still give it 4 stars. i may be addled, but my instincts recognize a good story when it smells one. more historical slice-of-life than i expected. and as detached as i was, i could not help falling for the characters and wishing them the best possible endings.
    • 3/5
      It was ok. sometimes I could get into the story and other times I just couldn't. I'll be honest- the main reason I picked it up is because I heard about the mini series that was filming for Apple + and was curious about it. Overall, not bad but not my favorite.
    • 3/5
      I confess I was unable to finish the book. I bought it based on the cover art and an intriguing premise. I found, though, that the characters were not compelling enough to sustain my interest.
    • 5/5
      I stayed up too late to finish this and then was sorry I had because it was over. Chilly, damp Victorian England; a complicated, smart, floundering woman with an odd son; a kind, fragile woman with heart and guts; several intelligent, difficult men; all admirably depicted in thoughtful, formal language... that'll do it for me, thank you. Relationships are tangled and fraught; philosophies and ethics of science, faith and love collide. What is the Serpent but a manifestation of everything we fear or distrust or don't want to believe? Spoiler (sort of...): it almost doesn't matter what it turns out to be, because how we think about it and respond to it is much more important. This is a book I wish I could have written. I will now look out for Sarah Perry's first novel (After Me Comes The Flood) and wait eagerly for her next.
    • 3/5
      Meh. I’ve heard rave reviews about how great The Essex Serpent was. It was a so-so historical fiction account centered around a rumor of a mysterious beast off the Essex coast. The Londoners get involved with the country people and culture clash ensues. The abused widow with her autistic son, the doctor buddies, the parson with his dying wife and their brood, the socialist friend and the murderous co-worker—none of them are all that compelling. The best thing about this book is the beautifully designed cover.
    • 4/5
      I have put off reading this for some time, because of the very mixed reviews I have seen. I ended up really enjoying this. I especially liked the older children's characters--Joanna, Naomi, and Francis. But Perry's various characters in Aldwinter are so lively--from the Cracknell and his goats, to the Ransome family, the Banks father and daughter, the teacher. I liked how Perry managed to bring in the wealthier Ambrose family and the surgeons, and Cora Seaborne. Friends-of-friends meet, and become close friends. The various personalities that make a small town go round. Throw in a bit of mystery (the Essex Serpent), and see how people react and behave--both in groups and singly. Plus a case of TB because it is the 19th century. Also, Perry does a great job writing weather, and sets modd very well.
    • 3/5
      I thought the setting and characters were interesting. The storyline didn't blow me away, but it was worth reading.