The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
1893 in London. The death of Cora Seaborne’s clever and tyrannical husband brings her both relief and regret because their marriage was unpleasant and she was never cut out to be a society wife. With her curious and compulsive eleven-year-old son Francis and the boy’s nanny, Martha, a fiercely protective friend, she flees the city for coastal Essex in search of fresh air and space.
When they get there, they hear whispers that the legendary Essex Serpent, a terrifying beast that previously prowled the marshes, has resurfaced after nearly three hundred years. On New Year’s Eve, a young man is mysteriously killed, turning the community’s fear into terror.
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
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Cora, an enthusiastic amateur naturalist who has little time for superstition or religion, is immediately intrigued and believes that what the people believe to be a mythical sea beast may actually be a newly discovered species.
She meets parish vicar William Ransome, who shares her curiosity about the stories but has a different theory. As a person of religion, he believes the alarming reports are the result of moral panic or a departure from the proper and moral course. Cora and William, who appear to be complete opposites, are brought together in a passionate connection as they work to learn the truth about the existence of the Essex Serpent. This relationship will affect both of them in unanticipated ways.
Cora’s London background follows her to the shore as they look for answers, with dramatic results. The Essex Serpent is a story told with wonderful grace and intellect that deftly examines issues of science and religion, scepticism and faith. However, it is most importantly a celebration of love and the various—and surprising—guises it can take.
In the late 1800s, Cora was a female scientist living in London. This novel is about her connections with men, her miserable marriage, her lovers, her struggles to connect with her strange son, and her hopes and dreams. The novel is less about the dreams of women during this time period and more about relationships, love and loss, and friendships. The conflict between religion and science dominates most of the conversation, but it is seldom touched. There weren’t many spooky moments in the novel; instead, there were a few minor pieces strewn throughout. The characters are intriguing and clearly delineated.
Sarah Parry, who was born and raised in the English county of Essex, is the author of the excellent book The Essex Serpent. The author uses a lush writing style to create beautiful characters and seasonal descriptions. The characters in the mail are Cora Seaborn, a recent widow whose husband Michael mistreated her. She deviates from the stereotype of a Victorian heroine in that she is intrigued by science, religion, fossils, and discovering new aspects of existence. The highly educated and eccentric son of Cora Seaborn, Frank Seaborn resides with his mother.
Brilliant cardiovascular surgeon Dr Luke Garrett is in love with Cora but is unable to win her over.
Dr George Spencer, a wildly successful young man, went to medical school with Luke. He has a good character. Cora, a London-based social worker who is passionate about social justice, is accompanied by Martha, a nurse. She is a young woman who is quite independent. With their three children Joanna, James, and John, the Rev. William Ransome and his wife Stella reside in the small village of Aldwinter. He and Cora argue frequently about issues involving religion and reason. He also worries about the congregation’s fears of a sea serpent known as the Essex Serpent. Despite his obsession with Cora, things between them are tense.
