468 pages
English language
Published Jan. 9, 1997 by Doubleday.
Alias Grace is a novel of historical fiction by Canadian writer Margaret Atwood. First published in 1996 by McClelland & Stewart, it won the Canadian Giller Prize and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. The story fictionalizes the notorious 1843 murders of Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery in Canada West. Two servants of the Kinnear household, Grace Marks and James McDermott, were convicted of the crime. McDermott was hanged and Marks was sentenced to life imprisonment.Although the novel is based on factual events, Atwood constructs a narrative with a fictional doctor, Simon Jordan, who researches the case. Although ostensibly conducting research into criminal behaviour, he slowly becomes personally involved in the story of Grace Marks and seeks to reconcile his perception of the mild-mannered woman he sees with the murder of which she has been convicted.Atwood first encountered the story of Grace Marks in Life in the Clearings …
Alias Grace is a novel of historical fiction by Canadian writer Margaret Atwood. First published in 1996 by McClelland & Stewart, it won the Canadian Giller Prize and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. The story fictionalizes the notorious 1843 murders of Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery in Canada West. Two servants of the Kinnear household, Grace Marks and James McDermott, were convicted of the crime. McDermott was hanged and Marks was sentenced to life imprisonment.Although the novel is based on factual events, Atwood constructs a narrative with a fictional doctor, Simon Jordan, who researches the case. Although ostensibly conducting research into criminal behaviour, he slowly becomes personally involved in the story of Grace Marks and seeks to reconcile his perception of the mild-mannered woman he sees with the murder of which she has been convicted.Atwood first encountered the story of Grace Marks in Life in the Clearings Versus the Bush by Susanna Moodie. In 1970, she published The Journals of Susanna Moodie, a cycle of poems informed by the published works of Moodie. It became a classic of Canadian literature, as it lyrically evokes the experience of life in the wilderness, immigrant life, and colonial times. Subsequently, Atwood wrote the 1974 CBC Television film The Servant Girl about Grace Marks, also based on Susanna Moodie's account. However, in Alias Grace, Atwood says that she has changed her opinion of Marks, having read more widely and discovered that Moodie had fabricated parts of her third-hand account of the famous murders.
This was great! I think Atwood channeled the writing style of this period while keeping a more modern tone. I used to read classics from the 1800s one after the other, so it felt familiar to me. However, that made it a bit long-winded for me.
Perhaps it's my interest in murderers (particularly serial murderers) from a criminological perspective that made me enjoy this novel as much as I did.
Based on a real person, Atwood took the constant double-standards in the presentation of Grace Marks and weaves a tale between the facts. Providing actual quotes from relevant media prior to each part of the book, she shows the ways in which Grace was frequently treated -- not smart enough to have done it, but so incredibly clever in how she pulled it off; a delicate young flower, but grisly and cold. Everyone saw something different, everyone had the same sets of double-standards for her.
I do wish, however, that there would've been more to Jeremiah. I enjoyed that character, even though she discussed how he was immoral in his own way despite being kind. Even though I loathe real-life pseudoscience and the cons who persist …
Perhaps it's my interest in murderers (particularly serial murderers) from a criminological perspective that made me enjoy this novel as much as I did.
Based on a real person, Atwood took the constant double-standards in the presentation of Grace Marks and weaves a tale between the facts. Providing actual quotes from relevant media prior to each part of the book, she shows the ways in which Grace was frequently treated -- not smart enough to have done it, but so incredibly clever in how she pulled it off; a delicate young flower, but grisly and cold. Everyone saw something different, everyone had the same sets of double-standards for her.
I do wish, however, that there would've been more to Jeremiah. I enjoyed that character, even though she discussed how he was immoral in his own way despite being kind. Even though I loathe real-life pseudoscience and the cons who persist in pushing it, I enjoy the kind of tricksters and hucksters portrayed in novels because they are so precisely charming and stereotypical of the sort.
"Alias Grace" by Margaret Atwood is a seductive work written by one of the best contemporary authors. I first encountered Atwood through her novel "The Handmaid's Tale" and I loved its creativity, playfulness, and insightful examination of the complex position of women in society. You see these qualities in "Alias Grace," though in a very different genre: historical fiction. Both novels have much to say about our present moment and get to the heart of the idea of a women's voice (or perceived lack of voice).
The novel takes place in the 19th century and concerns Grace Marks, a woman convicted of murdering her employer and his housekeeper. Though based on a true story, this telling is speculative and based on Atwood's reading of the confessions, accounts, and evidence presented. Grace tells her story through conversations with a young psychologist looking for a case that will make his career. Yet …
"Alias Grace" by Margaret Atwood is a seductive work written by one of the best contemporary authors. I first encountered Atwood through her novel "The Handmaid's Tale" and I loved its creativity, playfulness, and insightful examination of the complex position of women in society. You see these qualities in "Alias Grace," though in a very different genre: historical fiction. Both novels have much to say about our present moment and get to the heart of the idea of a women's voice (or perceived lack of voice).
The novel takes place in the 19th century and concerns Grace Marks, a woman convicted of murdering her employer and his housekeeper. Though based on a true story, this telling is speculative and based on Atwood's reading of the confessions, accounts, and evidence presented. Grace tells her story through conversations with a young psychologist looking for a case that will make his career. Yet the question that always lingers over the story is whether Grace is telling the truth and what she conceals. There are numerous moments when she tells the reader what she is thinking but does not tell the other characters. There are other times when she clearly is holding something back. We have the strange affect of someone speaking to us but not fully trusting all they say (which is a bit like the act of reading any historical document - you never are fully sure what is being left out accidentally or deliberately). All the while, as she speaks, she continues to sew, putting her story together piece-by-piece. The theme of quilts and patterns is throughout the novel and I think captures the idea of the reconstruction of memory and the way we create our identities. In spite of the other characters - the story is solidly Grace's.
Overall, the novel is an immensely entertaining and timely work. I found myself staying up late to read further along. I especially enjoyed it as a scholar of 19th century America and felt that Atwood captured the moods, tones, and attitudes of time period. I recommend the novel highly!
Atwood again excels at POV as prime mover but this novel lacks her usual urgency.
Another great book from Atwood. Starts off a little slow (compared to her other books) but once you figure out there might be more to the story than you're seeing, it really takes off. Recommended for Atwood fans!
