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Search - Alias Grace
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Alias Grace Author: |
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Book Information
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Other Versions of this Book: Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD, Hardcover
Book Description:
In the astonishing new novel by the author of the bestsellers The Robber Bride, Cat's Eye, and The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood takes us back in time and into the life and mind of one of the most enigmatic and notorious women of the nineteenth century. Grace Marks has been convicted for her involvement in the vicious murders of her employer, the wealthy Thomas Kinnear, and of Nancy Montgomery, his housekeeper and mistress. Some believe Grace is innocent; others think her evil or insane. Now serving a life sentence after a stint in Toronto's lunatic asylum, Grace herself claims to have no memory of the murders.
Dr. Simon Jordan, an up-and-coming expert in the burgeoning field of mental illness, is engaged by a group of reformers and spiritualists who seek a pardon for Grace. He listens to her story, from her family's difficult passage out of Ireland into Canada, to her time as a maid in Thomas Kinnear's household. As he brings Grace closer and closer to the day she cannot remember, he hears of the turbulent relationship between Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery, and of the alarming behavior of Grace's fellow servant, James McDermott. Jordan is drawn to Grace, but he is also baffled by her. What will he find in attempting to unlock her memories? Is Grace a female fiend, a bloodthirsty femme fatale? Or is she a victim of circumstances?
Alias Grace is a beautifully crafted work of the imagination that reclaims a profoundly mysterious and disturbing story from the past century. With compassion, an unsentimental lyricism, and her customary narrative virtuosity, Margaret Atwood mines the often convoluted relationships between men and women, and between the affluent and those without position. The result is her most captivating, disturbing, and ultimately satisfying work since The Handmaid's Tale--in short, vintage Atwood.
Dr. Simon Jordan, an up-and-coming expert in the burgeoning field of mental illness, is engaged by a group of reformers and spiritualists who seek a pardon for Grace. He listens to her story, from her family's difficult passage out of Ireland into Canada, to her time as a maid in Thomas Kinnear's household. As he brings Grace closer and closer to the day she cannot remember, he hears of the turbulent relationship between Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery, and of the alarming behavior of Grace's fellow servant, James McDermott. Jordan is drawn to Grace, but he is also baffled by her. What will he find in attempting to unlock her memories? Is Grace a female fiend, a bloodthirsty femme fatale? Or is she a victim of circumstances?
Alias Grace is a beautifully crafted work of the imagination that reclaims a profoundly mysterious and disturbing story from the past century. With compassion, an unsentimental lyricism, and her customary narrative virtuosity, Margaret Atwood mines the often convoluted relationships between men and women, and between the affluent and those without position. The result is her most captivating, disturbing, and ultimately satisfying work since The Handmaid's Tale--in short, vintage Atwood.
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Top Member Book Reviews
Leigh P. (
19 member(s) found this review helpful.
Without the mesmerizing plot of _The Handmaid's Tale_, this novel is a bit more difficult to get into. However, once you're introduced to the character, see how she presents herself, and then hear of her heinous crime, you'll want to read more.
Atwood made me question the strategy of victimhood throughout this novel: If you *are* guilty, do you keep quiet and play the victim of wrong place/wrong time? If you're not, do you remain silent for the same reason?
I felt unsatisfied with the ending, but you'll have to read it to judge for yourself. After all, there is a whole lot of judging going on in this novel. Recommended for a literary novel fan with a strong stomach.
Maureen T. (
3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Had a hard time getting into it.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
If you like Margaret Atwood, you'll love this book. Especially unique.
Beth T. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Beautifully written account a young maid's fall from grace in 19th century Canada.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Very interesting story and characters. Enjoyed it very much.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
In the 19th century, Grace Marks was convicted for her involvement in the vicious murders of her employer and his mistress. Some believe Grace is innocent, some think her evil or insane. Grace claims to have no memory of the murders.
Dr. Simon Jordan, an up and coming expert in the burgeoning field of mental illness, is engaged by a group of spiritualists and reformers who seek a pardon for Grace. Jordan is drawn to Grace, but also baffled by her. What will he find in attempting to unlock her memories?
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the story of Grace Marks a notorious and enigmatic women of the 19th century. She was convicted for her involvment in the vicious murders of her meployer, the wealthy Thomans Kinnear and his mistress Nancy Montgomery. Now serving a life sentence Grace herself claims to have no memory of the murders.
Read All Book Reviews of "Alias Grace"
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