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katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Striking historical/sociological novel with an empathetic lead and an engrossing story.
4.5 stars
I love historical settings, and Birmingham makes a great choice for this story set right in the heart of Victorian poverty-stricken Britain. Cora exemplifies the problems of the period - born in a gaol and then raised in a workhouse, what chance does she have?
As a child, Cora makes one friend in the workhouse. Later, she looks back at her young life and certain incidents with unease, with questions, and also thinks of her absent mother and the way her life has turned out. Released into the world, she accepts an offered position as between-maid in the house of a nearby scientist. The unusual household offers Cora yet more questions, as Violet, apparent ward to the owner, becomes a patron and friend but her own role in the residence is uncertain.
Cora bares all for us, her faults and foibles, her past, and I found her a credible character and one I could relate to, despite our evident differences. She exemplified for me the faults of a society that did not take care of its poorer members. I enjoyed the inserted doctor and scientist writings as well, that added the sociological elements of the plot and took their time to connect the dots of Cora's story and those of the people around her.
The themes of photography and perception are well portrayed with different characters and situations, and it's an intriguing plot that I was keen to get to the heart of.
I think at the heart of the novel, for me, was this, taken from the author's Readers' Questions:
"In mid-Victorian Birmingham, the prison, lunatic asylum and workhouse were built side-by-side... What does this show us about attitudes to the poor, the mentally ill and the criminals in Victorian Britain?"
The novel conveys a fantastically involving psychological story while giving us the chance to observe the sociological problems of the period.
With thanks to Netgalley for the sample reading copy.
4.5 stars
I love historical settings, and Birmingham makes a great choice for this story set right in the heart of Victorian poverty-stricken Britain. Cora exemplifies the problems of the period - born in a gaol and then raised in a workhouse, what chance does she have?
As a child, Cora makes one friend in the workhouse. Later, she looks back at her young life and certain incidents with unease, with questions, and also thinks of her absent mother and the way her life has turned out. Released into the world, she accepts an offered position as between-maid in the house of a nearby scientist. The unusual household offers Cora yet more questions, as Violet, apparent ward to the owner, becomes a patron and friend but her own role in the residence is uncertain.
Cora bares all for us, her faults and foibles, her past, and I found her a credible character and one I could relate to, despite our evident differences. She exemplified for me the faults of a society that did not take care of its poorer members. I enjoyed the inserted doctor and scientist writings as well, that added the sociological elements of the plot and took their time to connect the dots of Cora's story and those of the people around her.
The themes of photography and perception are well portrayed with different characters and situations, and it's an intriguing plot that I was keen to get to the heart of.
I think at the heart of the novel, for me, was this, taken from the author's Readers' Questions:
"In mid-Victorian Birmingham, the prison, lunatic asylum and workhouse were built side-by-side... What does this show us about attitudes to the poor, the mentally ill and the criminals in Victorian Britain?"
The novel conveys a fantastically involving psychological story while giving us the chance to observe the sociological problems of the period.
With thanks to Netgalley for the sample reading copy.
kimblefairy1989's review against another edition
4.0
I am not always a fan of historical fiction but I greatly enjoyed this novel. I liked the way it was written in story, journal and essay styles and I found each method furthered the story well.
This gets 4 stars from me.
This gets 4 stars from me.
thechemicaldetective's review against another edition
5.0
A fascinating exploration of nature versus nurture set against a background of workhouse, lunatic asylum, dilettante science and the grind of domestic service.
Victorian science and technology are woven into the story to create a vivid and historically accurate period background with lovely Gothic touches.
Cora is not an easy character but her internal conflicts are what set this book apart: damaged, suspicious, volatile, impulsive, passionate and fiercely intelligent.
The design is gorgeous, especially the plates for the "Wyverrn Quarterly" and Research Journals, and the story cracks along at a page turning pace - many mysteries to uncover, external and internal.
Victorian science and technology are woven into the story to create a vivid and historically accurate period background with lovely Gothic touches.
Cora is not an easy character but her internal conflicts are what set this book apart: damaged, suspicious, volatile, impulsive, passionate and fiercely intelligent.
The design is gorgeous, especially the plates for the "Wyverrn Quarterly" and Research Journals, and the story cracks along at a page turning pace - many mysteries to uncover, external and internal.
annecarts's review against another edition
4.0
I was drawn to this due to the Birmingham historical setting and the intriguing subject matter. The age old nature/nurture debate is drawn in a different way through the story of Cora and those close to her. The book is dark and creepy in places with a real sense of place. However I did feel the ending was a little rushed.
Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
jenmarchal's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
portybelle's review against another edition
4.0
Ex-convict Cora is a right bad ‘un as some might say. But what chance in life did she have? She was born in a Birmingham jail in the late 1800s to a mother she never knew, brought up in a workhouse and worked in an asylum. While growing up she was friends with Alice Salt and they were a terrible influence on each other. Despite Cora seeming to always behave in the worst possible ways, somehow the author makes you have some sympathy for her. She is prone to violence, cruelty and sheer nastiness. But there is a sense of some vulnerability within her, although I’ll admit it’s very well hidden. The need to know who she is and where she’s from is a strong driving force within her.
Doctors’ reports and articles from scientific and medical journals added throughout the book add sense of authenticity, making it seem as if reading about a real case. These and the storyline raised interesting questions about whether a person’s character is formed through nature or nurture. In Cora’s case you could ask these questions based on her experiences for real but in another character’s case it was a cruelly contrived experiment. Despite the appalling life Cora lived, this is a book which offers her some hope of a happier time ahead.
This is a very well researched novel and that comes across so clearly in the detailed storyline. You get a real sense of the hard life experienced by many, the grinding poverty, the dreadful living conditions, the squalor. The Conviction of Cora Burns is an assured debut and I look forward to travelling into the murky past again with this author.
Doctors’ reports and articles from scientific and medical journals added throughout the book add sense of authenticity, making it seem as if reading about a real case. These and the storyline raised interesting questions about whether a person’s character is formed through nature or nurture. In Cora’s case you could ask these questions based on her experiences for real but in another character’s case it was a cruelly contrived experiment. Despite the appalling life Cora lived, this is a book which offers her some hope of a happier time ahead.
This is a very well researched novel and that comes across so clearly in the detailed storyline. You get a real sense of the hard life experienced by many, the grinding poverty, the dreadful living conditions, the squalor. The Conviction of Cora Burns is an assured debut and I look forward to travelling into the murky past again with this author.
laurenjpegler's review against another edition
4.0
I LOVED this! a brilliant book which looks at insanity and psychology in the victorian period. is insanity hereditary or is it a reaction to our surroundings? mix this with photography, and how there is a likeness in certain criminals, and you’ve got a fantastic book that looks a social and cultural issues of birmingham in the victorian period!
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
After her release from Birmingham Gaol, Cora Burns has nothing except the promise of a job working as a maid in a country house. Cora has been institutionalised for her entire life, living in the workhouse, working in the asylum and then jailed, Cora blames her friend Alice for the crimes she has apparently committed. At The Larches she discovers that the master is a scientist who can be very manipulative, the mistress is a deranged woman and that, actually, Cora is a good worker. However when she discovers something about the master's research she also discovers something about her past and suddenly Cora has a chance for a future.
As a debut novel this is very impressive. I found Cora an interesting character and liked the links with photography and amateur psychology. Less well-developed was the idea of Cora as a schizophrenic, all the signs were there but this part of the story didn't seem to go anywhere. As a novel about the poor in the Midlands of mid-Victorian Britain the tale is well-researched and different. A strong debut novel from a writer to watch.
As a debut novel this is very impressive. I found Cora an interesting character and liked the links with photography and amateur psychology. Less well-developed was the idea of Cora as a schizophrenic, all the signs were there but this part of the story didn't seem to go anywhere. As a novel about the poor in the Midlands of mid-Victorian Britain the tale is well-researched and different. A strong debut novel from a writer to watch.
55_sallymander's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars, Are you a convict simply because you are born from a convict?
THE CONVICTION OF CORA BURNS
by Carolyn Kirby
Cora Burns is a product of institutionalization. Born in a workhouse in Birmingham, England, in the 1880s, she is used to being held back, punished for no reason. She worries that she may have violence inside of her, caused by her unfortunate mother who was a convict in the Birmingham gaol.
She is given a new chance when she is noticed by a local scientist who is running unethical social experiments on various citizens. She will be a servant in his house. The mysteries surrounding the household occupants disturb Cora, she is quite determined to discover what is going on.
Highly recommend a gothic, suspense, thriller.
Many thanks to #edelweissplus #noexitpress @noexitpress for the complimentary copy of #TheConvictionOfCoraBurns I was under no obligation to post a review.
THE CONVICTION OF CORA BURNS
by Carolyn Kirby
Cora Burns is a product of institutionalization. Born in a workhouse in Birmingham, England, in the 1880s, she is used to being held back, punished for no reason. She worries that she may have violence inside of her, caused by her unfortunate mother who was a convict in the Birmingham gaol.
She is given a new chance when she is noticed by a local scientist who is running unethical social experiments on various citizens. She will be a servant in his house. The mysteries surrounding the household occupants disturb Cora, she is quite determined to discover what is going on.
Highly recommend a gothic, suspense, thriller.
Many thanks to #edelweissplus #noexitpress @noexitpress for the complimentary copy of #TheConvictionOfCoraBurns I was under no obligation to post a review.
geekylou's review against another edition
4.0
Great novel about asylums and Prisons in 1800's. Some really dark sides to the characters but somehow you begin you like them. Hope to read more from this author.