Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood. This is a book I purchased some time ago but hadn't got around to reading. So when the letter A was pulled from the bag I was more than happy! Based on a real life person, this is the story of Grace Marks, one of the most notorious women of the 1840s. At the age of 16, she, and another man, are accused of a double murder and although convicted, she is sentenced to life imprisonment rather than facing the noose her supposed accomplice suffered. Following a mental breakdown, she also spends time in an asylum. Through a series of interviews with Doctor Simon Jordan, plus letters written between various doctors, clergy and judiciary, we learn about Grace's short life and what brought her to the day of the crime. It's a sad tale of hardship, deprivation and the unfair treatment of women. Grace herself gave three different accounts of the events that led to the murder of her employer, Thomas Kinnear, and his housekeeper and lover, Nancy Montgomery. And as the book progresses, it is hard to stay whether she was the instigator, coerced or completely innocent? There was much debate at the time, with opinions varying wildly, and still the debate continues. This is a fascinating dive into the politics, treatment of mental health patients and criminals of the time. I liked that it was told from different points of view, so that you are never quite sure which one to listen to, and can find yourself swaying one way and then the other. As you would expect from the author, this is well written and the only reason it failed to receive five stars from myself is that I found some parts a little repetitive, but that's probably just me! I can definitely recommend this to anyone wanting a meaty read and who doesn't mind that the light moments are few and far between!
My STAR rating: FOUR.
Length: 560 print pages.
Price I paid: £3.00
Formats available: print, unabridged audiobook, ebook.
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