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beth_zovko's review
4.0
This was a fictionalized account of a true happening in English history. In 1650, Anne Green was hanged for murder. Her body was given to a college for disection, where it was discovered that she was still alive. The book's chapters alternate between Anne - who thinks she's in Purgatory- relating the circumstances that led to her hanging, and Robert - the medical student who first notices Anne is still alive - giving an account of the measures doctors took to revive her. A fast read, well written, the book also includes the original phamphlets of the case.
catcervone's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars, this book surpassed every expectation I had. Can’t believe the author was able to turn a true story into this! It kept me on the edge of my seat and was beautifully told.
courtnoodles's review against another edition
1.0
I finished this in five days because I just wanted to get this book done and over with. It was painful. Save yourself the trouble. Here's the entire plot summary in a few sentences:
Anne Green, a servant in 17th century England, is raped by her employer's grandson. She becomes pregnant with his child and gives birth after 6 months. The child is stillborn. Her staff and employers don't believe her story and accuse her of murder. In court, the jury, swayed by the political influence of Anne's employer, find her guilty. She is hanged, and her body is donated to the Oxford University Medical School for dissection and study. Somehow, she survives the hanging and somehow, the medical students revive her to nearly full health.
Newes from the Dead was boring, predictable, and difficult to read. Anne is intended to be written as naive and gullible, but comes off as stupid. I wanted to smack her upside the head countless times. The supporting characters were not interesting, and there were too many of them to the point that it was hard to keep who was who straight, except for Anne's rapist and her "love" interest, if you can even call it that (someone apart from her rapist). And don't get me started on the alternating point of view, bouncing between Anne's story and Robert's, a medical student who is present as Anne is trying to be revived. Nothing happens in that point of view for too long, there are too many students and doctors who all blend together, and it was never even fully explained how they managed to revive her. You never learn about Robert, aside from one childhood trauma planted to make you feel for him, but you never do, and his whole character feels utterly useless. He doesn't do anything to help revive Anne either, aside from keeping a log. The only character I was interested in at all was Anne, and only to see how she survived. I feel like I never got a full explanation of how she survived the hanging, or how they managed to revive her, and felt jilted. The book is also split into two "parts". The second part begins after Anne has finished telling the reader her story of how she came to be hanged, and lasts maybe 30 pages or less. In a 250-ish page book, this split felt useless and might have worked better as one continuous tale.
The medical miracle of Anne Green is an interesting premise for a book. Unfortunately, the author's attempts to create an exciting mystery and any sort of emotional connection or sympathy with Anne and her experience falls completely flat. Anne's wikipedia page gives all the info you need on what happened to her. Read that instead, and skip this.
Anne Green, a servant in 17th century England, is raped by her employer's grandson. She becomes pregnant with his child and gives birth after 6 months. The child is stillborn. Her staff and employers don't believe her story and accuse her of murder. In court, the jury, swayed by the political influence of Anne's employer, find her guilty. She is hanged, and her body is donated to the Oxford University Medical School for dissection and study. Somehow, she survives the hanging and somehow, the medical students revive her to nearly full health.
Newes from the Dead was boring, predictable, and difficult to read. Anne is intended to be written as naive and gullible, but comes off as stupid. I wanted to smack her upside the head countless times. The supporting characters were not interesting, and there were too many of them to the point that it was hard to keep who was who straight, except for Anne's rapist and her "love" interest, if you can even call it that (someone apart from her rapist). And don't get me started on the alternating point of view, bouncing between Anne's story and Robert's, a medical student who is present as Anne is trying to be revived. Nothing happens in that point of view for too long, there are too many students and doctors who all blend together, and it was never even fully explained how they managed to revive her. You never learn about Robert, aside from one childhood trauma planted to make you feel for him, but you never do, and his whole character feels utterly useless. He doesn't do anything to help revive Anne either, aside from keeping a log. The only character I was interested in at all was Anne, and only to see how she survived. I feel like I never got a full explanation of how she survived the hanging, or how they managed to revive her, and felt jilted. The book is also split into two "parts". The second part begins after Anne has finished telling the reader her story of how she came to be hanged, and lasts maybe 30 pages or less. In a 250-ish page book, this split felt useless and might have worked better as one continuous tale.
The medical miracle of Anne Green is an interesting premise for a book. Unfortunately, the author's attempts to create an exciting mystery and any sort of emotional connection or sympathy with Anne and her experience falls completely flat. Anne's wikipedia page gives all the info you need on what happened to her. Read that instead, and skip this.
pollydye's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
rust3d_m0ss's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
dualportaldestinies's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nbrock423's review
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
williamsdebbied's review
4.0
Anne Green was a maid who was hanged for the murder of her infant son. But that is only the beginning of her story. She awakens in her coffin, at first unsure of where she is and how she got there. Gradually, her memories return and she tells her story.
A young surgeon, about to observe the dissection of her body, notices her eyelids flutter. His more scientific observations alternate with Anne's voice as they tell her story.
Loosely based on a true story from England in the mid 1600's.
A young surgeon, about to observe the dissection of her body, notices her eyelids flutter. His more scientific observations alternate with Anne's voice as they tell her story.
Loosely based on a true story from England in the mid 1600's.
thisfoxreads's review
4.0
What if you were supposed to be dead, but you didn't seem to be...You can hear people talking but can't seem to move at all. Now imagine that you were hanged--and someone wants you gone forever. It's the mid-17th Century, and he is very powerful, while you are only a common servant in his household.
Accused of murder, Anne Green was sentenced to death--but is she dead?
The story is told by Anne and by Robert, a medical student with a stutter. Robert witnessed the hanging and now will witness his first dissection. He is also the first to notice Anne's signs of life--but being nearly unable to make himself understood, can he get the renowned doctors to see them, too? Each chapter switches to a different narrator--first Anne as she wakes after the hanging--then Robert, waiting for the doctors to appear to perform the dissection. I would think, "No! I want to hear what ___ has to say next!" but then I would be riveted by the next chapter. Anne relates the events that led to her hanging, while Robert shares the time from one hour after the hanging, and gradually the two merge.
This book is incredible. It's not only amazing to imagine what it would be like to be Ann, but also learning about life centuries ago in Cromwell's England. I had to reread about Charles II and Cromwell while listening to this audiobook.
The best part? This is based on a true story! Anne Green actually lived, and was hanged for infanticide in 1650, but returned to life. The character of Robert was a literary device based on the practices of the day--and is a wonderful counterpoint. The narrators do an excellent job portraying their characters.
Highly recommend!
Accused of murder, Anne Green was sentenced to death--but is she dead?
The story is told by Anne and by Robert, a medical student with a stutter. Robert witnessed the hanging and now will witness his first dissection. He is also the first to notice Anne's signs of life--but being nearly unable to make himself understood, can he get the renowned doctors to see them, too? Each chapter switches to a different narrator--first Anne as she wakes after the hanging--then Robert, waiting for the doctors to appear to perform the dissection. I would think, "No! I want to hear what ___ has to say next!" but then I would be riveted by the next chapter. Anne relates the events that led to her hanging, while Robert shares the time from one hour after the hanging, and gradually the two merge.
This book is incredible. It's not only amazing to imagine what it would be like to be Ann, but also learning about life centuries ago in Cromwell's England. I had to reread about Charles II and Cromwell while listening to this audiobook.
The best part? This is based on a true story! Anne Green actually lived, and was hanged for infanticide in 1650, but returned to life. The character of Robert was a literary device based on the practices of the day--and is a wonderful counterpoint. The narrators do an excellent job portraying their characters.
Highly recommend!