When Cora’s husband dies, London 1893, she and her son Francis leave for Essex, hoping for fresh air and open space. Rumours of the return of the deadly Essex serpent creates panic in the superstitious country folk, and leads Cora to put her skills as an amateur naturalist to good use.  Her impatience with religion and her search for what she hopes will be an undiscovered species leads her into unusual locations and relationships.  The story is powerfully written and atmospheric.  Sarah Perry's  first novel was longlisted for the Guardian’s First Book Award and Folio Prize, and won the East Anglian Book of the Year Award in 2014.
 
Author Sarah Perry