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A review by funsizedmrsw
The Conviction of Cora Burns by Carolyn Kirby
4.0
Historical fiction isn't a genre I automatically reach for but when I read the synopsis for The Conviction of Cora Burns I just knew I had to read it. It's a real mixture of gothic atmospheric Victorian Birmingham, the shocking lengths scientific experimentation would go to and poverty. The main character Cora Burns is a strong, feisty and sometimes unlikable character but you can't help but empathize and want a happy ending for her.
The book touches on topics such as nature vs nurture, prison and asylum life in the Victorian era, and classism. The way Carolyn writes is so atmospheric and you can also smell the stench of the cobbled streets of Birmingham and feel the despair and anger that Cora feels so many times during the story.
I loved this multi-layered novel, the story is interspersed with letters, journal notes and newspaper articles that weave together perfectly. There are some parts of the story that are not for the faint-hearted but if you have a strong constitution then I highly recommend that you read this book.
My only criticism and it's a personal one is that the font of the text in some of the articles and entries were difficult to read.
The book touches on topics such as nature vs nurture, prison and asylum life in the Victorian era, and classism. The way Carolyn writes is so atmospheric and you can also smell the stench of the cobbled streets of Birmingham and feel the despair and anger that Cora feels so many times during the story.
I loved this multi-layered novel, the story is interspersed with letters, journal notes and newspaper articles that weave together perfectly. There are some parts of the story that are not for the faint-hearted but if you have a strong constitution then I highly recommend that you read this book.
My only criticism and it's a personal one is that the font of the text in some of the articles and entries were difficult to read.