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Newes From The Dead

by Mary Hooper

This intriguing novel is based on the case of maidservant, Anne Green, 'hanged for infanticide at Oxford Assizes in 1650. Restored to the world and died again in 1665'.

Through a cleverly structured dual narrative Anne's story unfolds from unconsciousness - a woeful tale of seduction by her Master's grandson, pregnancy then still-birth, followed by imprisonment, trial and hanging.

Her revival is recounted by Robert Matthews, a young scholar attending the dissection of Anne's body, who notices the first flickers of life.

This is strong stuff, with gruesome details aplenty, but Anne and Robert's voices ring true and it's a fascinating insight into a time when the upper classes wielded life-or-death power, and ideas about medicine, science and religion were in constant flux.

 

Publisher: Definitions
  • Mary Hooper

    Mary Hooper has been writing professionally for over 20 years. She started by writing short stories and serials for teenage and women's magazines when her children were small. Having done a few hundred, and thinking it would be good to see something more permanent on the shelves, she wrote and had published 15 teenage novels. Following this, she wrote another 15 novels or so for younger readers, all humorous. She is perhaps best known for her historical fiction, which captures the atmosphere of the past perfectly and mixes it with romance and adventure. At The Sign of the Sugared Plum was her first historical novel for Bloomsbury. She has since written seven more including Fallen Grace. Mary left school at 15 with no qualifications. She worked as a secretary for some years, then got married and had two children. She took an English degree at Reading University as a mature student and graduated in 1990. She now divides her time between writing more serious books for teenagers and funny stuff for ages seven to twelve.

     

    Visit Mary's website

     

    http://www.maryhooper.co.uk/
    Mary Hooper Photo: Bloomsbury
    Mary Hooper Photo: Bloomsbury

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