The Essex Serpent

A Novel

De: Sarah Perry

Narrado por: Juanita McMahon

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.

Gorgeous

This is a beautifully told story. The narrator is exceptional. I think I would have loved the book if I had read it, rather than listened to it, but not as much.

Not what I expected

This was a well written story, but not what I expected. Masochistic physical and sexual abuse, disturbed children, attempted murder, infidelity, tuberculosis, heart surgery, superstition, unrequited love, homosexuality, suicide, wealth vs poverty, and it goes on. I expected it to be a bit mystical, but it wasn’t at all. I’ve never read a book that had so many issues crammed into one story. I don’t think all the people in a group this size are generally this damaged. It was a pretty depressing read for me.

A bit meandering but it gets there.

This book felt long. It has some slow parts but it usually picks up eventually. The story is a very interesting one as well. For those who think this is a fantasy book, it's definitely not. It's just a book about a woman who is recently widowed and her figuring out how to live life. Its not a great romance, it's not about a snake, it's mostly about internal journeys and self discoveries. But it's good and entertaining if you are into that sort of thing.

Puts new Apple show to shame

Very impressed with the narrator’s ability to give each character a unique and easily identifiable voice.

Sadly the book puts Apple’s new show to shame. It’s much better than the show is so far.

Beautiful story so Relevant to our Present

I loved this book. Interesting story, with themes that are at once timeless & surprisingly modern in a Victorian setting. Part The Year of Wonders, part The French Lieutenant's Woman, part The Thirteenth Tale, part Henry James, EM Forster, & Edith Wharton, & yet wholly its own story. Definitely fits the cover. The writing is dense so I listened & read. Narrator is excellent.

A Rich Tapestry

A captivating interweaving of themes of faith, superstition , love, , renunciation, and redemption. Profound.

Great book odd reading

Really don’t understand how the producer and reader both missed Cora’s voice so badly. How does a young Londoner become an elderly immigrant? They missed on a couple of others as well (how old is Charles?) but that’s expected of more minor characters. Every time Cora spoke it was jarring and disconcerting.

Otherwise, excellent read.

Disappointed

The story was okay. I expected a lot more after the rave reviews I had seen. However, the narrator's voice was the biggest deterrent to enjoyment. I loved her accent. However. her volume was all over the place. I'd have to crank my volume to hear her crazily quiet voice, and then she'd start yelling or say some words soft and some loud. I almost quit three times, but kept on because of the story line: I wanted to encounter the serpent...which was just another disappointment later on.

Wonderful story / superb narration

I loved the premise of this book -- the age old tale of fear spreading through a community and what dynamics develop because of it. Also explores the theme of the outsider who comes into a tight knit group and fascinated some while upsetting the balance of others.

Loved the narration. Just enough acting to bring the story alive. Wonderful voices.

A slog of a tale

Great Reader! but as lengthy story with many subplots. At a point it felt like a Victorian Ann Tyler novel where nothing but misery was heaped on the characters. A slog to get through, but a fairly rewarding ending.