Wednesday 6 May 2009

Book review - Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper

A terrified girl is hanged for the murder of a baby. She denies the accusations until the end, when she is hanged. Her body is cut down, one of the five corpses a year that the Oxford physicians are allowed to dissect. As interested scholars and doctors gather, they get a horrible shock. Her eyelids flutter. Could she still be alive? And yet she doesn’t move. The doctors are mystified. Should they try to revive the seemingly dead body? And if they managed it, wouldn’t she just be hanged all over again?

This is a really unusual storyline. It’s rather unbelievable, I agree. But even more unbelievable is the fact that it was based on a true story. As soon as I discovered that I wanted to get myself a copy of Newes From the Dead. Not only is it based on a true story, but it feels accurate. I’m sure Mary Hooper embellished the story a lot, but she did this with discretion. It doesn’t feel sensationalised, just more personal.

We get the narrative split up between Anne and a young scholar, Robert. Anne has woken up not knowing where she is, unable to see anything or move. Afraid that she is either in purgatory or has been buried alive, she distracts herself by going over the events in her head, basically telling her own story. In between these chapters is the account of what is happening in the doctors’ rooms. This works well as the speculation from the doctors regarding her trial coincides with Anne’s own account.

As far as characters, some are interesting and some underdeveloped. Unfortunately, Anne felt too flat. The author apparently tries to make her innocence clear by making her overly naive. This was taken too far, especially for a servant in 1650. On top of this, Anne seemed immature and had little redeeming features. She was simply the embodiment of ‘innocent young girl greatly wronged.’ On the other hand, I loved the dialogue between the scholars and Robert especially. Robert is struggling with a stammer, unable to talk to people but he finds that he can talk to Anne’s motionless body.

Despite some small problems, I enjoyed Newes from the Dead. The time period was realistically portrayed and the lack of justice for the lower classes is shocking. Younger readers should be aware that the book deals with some seduction, hanging and giving birth. These are handled well so aren’t too gruesome, but are integral to the plot. It’s an interesting and well-written read, but not too hard-going.

13 comments:

  1. Fascinating review, H, thank you very much!

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  2. Great review. I really loved "Newes from the Dead". Can you imagine waking up about to be dissected?

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  3. You've made me want to read this now! Nooo... cannot buy any more books this week!

    Thanks for the review.

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  4. This looks really interesting! I havn't seen it in barnes and nobles so I'm guessing it's only in the UK. and I see you got a twitter! Finally the mysterious "H" is named! :-D
    I love the name Hannah, though I guess everyone automatically likes others names more. I actually really like my name though, so I'm contradicting myself lol
    -amy

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  5. Unusual it certainly is, but it semems incredibly fascinating! Now I want to read it, too! :)

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  6. I was really surprised to see this book up for review. I thought it existed past the radar of anyone. I was actually planning on putting it up for review soon to bring it out of the depths, but it looks like you beat me to it. And you live in the UK? You are officially beyond awesome. Hello from the other side of the pond! :)

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  7. Kate - I'd rather not! Especially if I couldn't move :)

    Amy - It's there on Amazon.com with a different cover from the UK one so I think you can get it in the US. It's published by Roaring Brook press which I hadn't heard of so I think there's a US edition.

    I wasn't really trying to be mysterious with 'H' I just thought there might already be a Hannah. I quite like this 'girl of mystery' persona it's given me though :)

    Heather - If living in the UK constitutes awesome then I am just surrounded by awesome people all the time :D I'd be interested to see your review of this.

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  8. scary but interesting. thanks for introducing this one.

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  9. this sounds like such a great book!! im 13 and my parents didnt think it would be sutable :( it sucks because i love this kind of stuff but they dont want me reading it :( oh well.. im going to get to read it eventually!
    -Emily :)

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  10. I found this book quite boring and as if it had been written for a child of 10. I do feel sorry for the 13 year old that says they're parents won't let them read it.....

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  11. I just read this book and found it rather exciting although i also felt as though sometimes the author(mary hooper) was trying to be a bit too clever for her own good. Great review though!

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  12. I read this book, it was sorta boring. When I read it it kinda made me wanna sleep. It was not a book that I said " Ohhhh yay! I get to go read now!! Yipee !! " but I guess that depends on your type of books your perfer.

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  13. ANNES REDEEMING FEATURES WERE THAT SHES THE INNOCENT TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. IN READING THIS BOOK I FELT A DEEP CONECTION WITH HER MATURENESS, ITS NOT THAT SHES NAIVE SHE'D JUST RATHER BE IN A MORE PROMINENT LIGHT. i ALSO DON'T FEEL SHE WAS A FLAT CHARACTER, BEING ABLE TO SEE INTO HER MIND GIVES THE READER THE RESOURCEFULNESS TO GATHER THERE OWN ASSUMPTIONS.OVERALL I FELT THIS BOOK WAS QUITE GOOD. OlIVIA, 16

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