The Essex Serpent

We don’t sell many new books - sellers of new books are easy to find and their services are convenient.  We prefer to offer to you quality books that no longer line the shelves of B&N, books that have stood the test of time, and lesser known gems that should not be forgotten.

But every once in awhile, we find a new book so extraordinary that we want to offer it.  That is the case with award-winning The Essex Serpent. It spans genres, and it is utterly absorbing.  Mystery, historical novel, and romance, with an underlying theme of natural history, it follows a recent widow who wants only to pursue her passion for fossils, as one of the many amateur naturalists of the late 19th century.

Universally praised, a few of its reviews include, “…a work of astonishing breadth and brilliance,” from Kirkus; “I found it so transporting that 48 hours after completing it, I was still resentful to be back home,” by the New York Times; “Perry’s achieved the near impossible….It’s a stunning achievement,” by the Independent; and “The best new novel I’ve read in years,” by the Daily Telegraph.

We have found a few lovely, hardcover, first U.S. edition later printings, with the striking William-Morris inspired dust jacket and lovely deckled edges.  On Abebooks, new copies are priced at $50 - $64, but we are happy to be able to offer this volume for $35 for our website customers.  We recommend you skip the so-so Apple TV+ adaptation, at least until you have read this lush, unforgettable story in its original form.