London 1893. When Cora Seaborne's controlling husband dies, she steps
into her new life as a widow with as much relief as sadness. Along with her son
Francis – a curious, obsessive boy – she leaves town for Essex, in the
hope that fresh air and open space will provide refuge. On arrival, rumours
reach them that the mythical Essex Serpent, once said to roam the marshes
claiming lives, has returned to the coastal parish of Aldwinter. Cora, a keen
amateur naturalist with no patience for superstition, is enthralled, convinced
that what the local people think is a magical beast may be a yet-undiscovered
species. As she sets out on its trail, she is introduced to William Ransome,
Aldwinter's vicar, who is also deeply suspicious of the rumours, but thinks
they are a distraction from true faith. As he tries to calm his parishioners,
Will and Cora strike up an intense relationship, and although they agree on
absolutely nothing, they find themselves at once drawn together and torn apart,
affecting each other in ways that surprise them both. The Essex Serpent is a
celebration of love, and the many different shapes it can take.
Author Biography
Sarah Perry was born in Essex in 1979. She has a PhD in creative writing from
Royal Holloway, and has been the writer in residence at the Gladstone Library
and the UNESCO World City of Literature Writer in Residence in Prague. Her first
novel, After Me Comes the Flood, was longlisted for the Guardian First Book
Award and the Folio Prize, and won the East Anglian Book of the Year Award in
2014. She lives in Norwich.
Shortlist, 2016 Costa Novel Award
