The Corset

‘’Perhaps I do have the liberty to come and go as I please. But I do not attend for my own amusement. I came for you. To offer some comfort.’’

Jesus Christ, this book...Where do I begin? After the outstanding The Silent Companions, Laura Purcell creates a story that is dark, haunting, atmospheric, mysterious and complex. So different to his successful predecessor and yet equally powerful and agonizingly intense. The Corset will surely enter the lists of the best reads of 2018, arriving just in time for the spookiest part of the year.

Dorothea is a young woman, born in the upper English society, aiming at comforting the women convicts in the Oakgate Prison. It is there that she meets Ruth, a sixteen-year-old girl, accused of vile show more murders, awaiting her trial. Dorothea is drawn to Ruth’s story because the young seamstress doesn’t claim she’s innocent. She is convinced that her hands led to the death of a number of people, through her stitches. Her unique ability as a seamstress becomes a murder weapon. Dorothea doesn’t know what to believe and she cannot imagine that Ruth’s story will lead her to doubt everything she’s ever taken for granted in her life and in her family...

‘’I’ve had enough of people talking behind my back.’’

The writing is exquisite. Beautiful in its darkness, raw and haunting. The Victorian era comes alive through the pages in all its grim and dark aspects and the two heroines are marvelously portrayed. Their voices are clearly different, their thoughts reflecting the views of their class and personal experiences. Even if you didn’t read the names at the beginning of each chapter, you would definitely understand whose story you’re reading.

What creates a special setting in The Corset? For me, the combination of certain supernatural factors and an all-too-real harsh social status. The heart of the story lies in a variety of traditions related to sewing. In many Northern European and Slavic traditions, the stitches on a cloak or a chemise were part of a spell to guarantee the safety of the fighting warrior. Think about the scabbard of Excalibur, stitched by Morgaine in The Mists of Avalon. In other tales, the stitches were part of ill-wishing and betrayal. Consider Kriemhild and Siegfried’s cloak in the saga of the Nibelungs. In Greece, we believe it is ill fortune to sew clothes while someone’s wearing them. If we can’t help it, we whisper a few words to exorcise the evil that may lead to death. In the old days, we believed that no one should mend your clothes apart from your mother and many men learnt how to sew as a result of this superstition. So, ill wishes while sewing can lead to disaster. A needle and thread can prove lethal and Ruth is convinced of that.

Another topic that belongs to the paranormal sphere is the pseudo-science of phrenology, one of my favourite ‘’absurd mock-science’’ moments. Phrenology was one of the obsessions of the Victorian age, a study of a human’s skull in an attempt to decipher the character and the inclinations. In an era that nothing would come to surface because of a severe notion of propriety, many tried to see beyond the tangible world and its inhabitants and this is how the frenzy for all things paranormal was born. Dorothea tries to answer the question of evil. What if any evil propensity could be discovered at a young age and eliminated? This is an issue that science still tries to address. Are we born ‘’bad’’ or certain circumstances lead us there?

Now, these supernatural factors are brilliantly married to the bitter circumstances that influence the two women’s lives. The living conditions and the social status of Dorothea and Ruth are perfectly juxtaposed. Dorothea is a little bit too protected from the dark world and it is through Ruth that her eyes open. She acquires a newfound strength, adding to her own conviction of refusing to become just a wife and a mother. Ruth was forced to meet life face-to-face in cruel ways and we see that both women are actually in a prison of their own. One literally, the other socially.

The character development is nothing short of outstanding, with Ruth being the most complex character because of her life background and her grim adventures. I loved her as I loved Dorothea to whom I found myself fervently connected. There is a rich cast of secondary characters that are nuanced, some of them likable, others much less so but all with their own part to play in the advancement of this dark story. Sometimes, this is the function of a character and I don’t see why should this be a fault. Whatever.

I’ve read a multitude of books that fall into the Gothic Fiction genre. The Corset is on a pedestal among them. So different to The Silent Companions, equally beautiful in a twisted, dark, sad way. I can’t wait to see what the amazing Laura Purcell has in store for us in the future!

‘’At what point do we cease to be merciful, and become fools?’’

Many thanks to the PigeonholeHQ and Laura Purcell for the serialized ARC. It’s been a beautiful, excruciatingly agonizing experience in the best possible way. Sharing views in real time with other readers and discovering the writer’s own thoughts in the pages made this reading even more memorable. show less

Sixteen-year-old seamstress Ruth Butterham is in prison awaiting trial for murdering her mistress. Dorothea Truelove, a young lady of privileged background, visits Ruth as part of her performing *acts of mercy* towards those less fortunate than her. During these visits Ruth confesses to Dorothea that she can transfer thoughts and emotions to a garment while sewing, and that this can include killing the person involved. Dorothea is intrigued: will she finally be able to prove her theory concerning phrenology that in murderers the criminal organs in their skull are enlarged?

I loved the creepiness of Laura Purcell's debut novel The Silent Companions; consequently, I thought this follow-up novel was a bit of a mixed bag: it starts out show more promisingly enough, with Ruth's power quite unsettling, because it only gradually dawns on her what unexpected and unfortunate consequences her needlework has. Then, however, the narrative slows down considerably as we follow Ruth's story as told to Dorothea during her regular prison visits, as well as Dorothea's own journey to an important realisation. The ending is very well done, with not just one twist but two, which I really didn't see coming.

It's no secret that I didn't get on with Dorothea's character; I found her to be extremely shallow, a do-gooder performing good deeds not out of any prevalent Christian sentiment, but because her mother would have expected it of her and because this way she could finally get her hands on a criminal's skull. Superficially she appears of good character, but scratch the surface lightly and the true nature of her thoughts towards those less fortunate becomes apparent.

Ruth was a much more interesting and intriguing character, and I really felt for her. Here is a helpless girl bullied by fellow students, cast out by polite society, mistreated by her mistresses and at the receiving end of some cruel pranks by her fellow seamstresses, who finally realises her secret power and uses it to fight back against those who have ill-treated her.

While the initial premise seemed promising, in my view this novel failed to live up to expectations. I will probably investigate Laura Purcell's third novel, Bone China, before I make up my mind as to whether to continue with this author. show less

4.5 Stars

A beautifully deductive Victorian chiller from the author of [b:The Silent Companions|35458733|The Silent Companions|Laura Purcell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500725504l/35458733._SY75_.jpg|55746774].

Captivating and intriguing and a book that had me reading into the wee hours of the morning.

I love gothic fiction and Laura Purcell is now my queen of Gothic fiction.

Dorothea Truelove is young wealthy and beautiful, Ruth Butterham is young, poor and awaiting trial for murder. The two women’s paths cross when Dorothea charitable works takes her to Oakgate Prison where she finds herself intrigued by Ruth and her confession as a murderess and over the course of Dorothea’s visits with show more Ruth she learns of Ruth’s past and the secrets she has been hiding.

Creepy and atmospheric gothic fiction works for me and for the past few weeks this is what I am indulging myself in on lockdown and I am loving every minute of my time spent with these stories.
I loved the characters and the setting of this novel. Laura Purcell creates the most amazing characters and situations and I enjoyed both Protagonist’s stories. One of those stories that keep you guessing right up until the end and boy did I enjoy that ending. I had to go back and re-read the last few pages just to grasp what I had read.

I listened to this one on Audible and the narrator was excellent and added to my enjoyment of the story but I really can’t help wishing I had a hard copy for my real life book shelf to sit alongside [bc:The Silent Companions|34600633|The Silent Companions|Laura Purcell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1489571003l/34600633._SY75_.jpg|55746774] copy.

Gothic fiction isn't everyone's cup of tea but if you are a fan then this is a real treat and a book that is going onto my favorites list. show less

The original British title of this old-fashioned horror tale is The Corset, which I think is much more fitting than The Poison Thread. Not only does a corset feature prominently in the story, but the women characters--the two narrators, Ruth and Dorothea, as well as the surrounding cast--are bound up, restricted by the time and place in which they are living. This is a story about abuse, poverty, desperation, and control. But the young girl Ruth finds her personal power in her sewing; she believes she can embroider death into the garments she makes. Whether she is correct about that is the central mystery of the story. In prison for killing her mistress, she tells her story to Dorothea, an upper-class do-gooder who wants to live an show more independent life out from under her father's thumb. As Ruth tells Dorothea her story, the two starkly different lives become more intertwined, leading up to a startling ending. The story deftly blends elements of the gothic, horror, and mystery, and I enjoyed it as much as Purcell's earlier novel, The Silent Companions. show less

I'd give this 6 stars if I could, and with 4 reading weeks left in the year, I'm also fairly certain The Corset by Laura Purcell is going to be my No 1. favourite book of the year.

An historical fiction novel, The Corset is essentially a Victorian gothic thriller. Told in alternating chapters by two female narrators, Dorothea is a wealthy and charitable woman with an interest in phrenology, and Ruth is a prisoner awaiting trial for murder.

Dorothea visits Ruth in prison with the intention of measuring and monitoring her skull for her phrenology studies but is soon interested in Ruth's story. Before her arrest, Ruth was a seamstress and she claims her needlework has the power to kill.

The Corset is an absolute masterpiece with so many show more elements I enjoy in a book: secrets, friendship, Victorian England, needlework, gruesome hardship, betrayal, revenge, redemption, hope, poison and mystery. These elements in the Victorian setting and gothic atmosphere enhanced my enjoyment tenfold and I really didn't want this to finish.

It did draw to a close though and the subtle twist at the end made me clutch at my chest and gasp and is one of the most satisfying endings I can remember reading. The Corset is an intelligent, riveting and engaging story and I enjoyed every stitch on every page. If you enjoyed Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (book or the mini series) then this is for you.

* Copy courtesy of Bloomsbury * show less

I'm finding myself more and more drawn to Victorian Gothic fiction these days and The Corset immediately caught my eye because of the title and the cover. I'm pleased to say that the words inside utterly captivated me.

Dorothea and Ruth tell this story in their own chapters, but Ruth is the more dominant character. She's in prison, having been found guilty of murder at just sixteen years of age. She's surprisingly well-educated, many of her contemporaries being unable to read and write as she can. Ruth tells the story of her life and her occupation as a seamstress, and also her belief that she can inflict death on others using just her needle and thread.

Dorothea is fascinated by Ruth. She visits various offenders in prison but Ruth show more becomes her focus. Dorothea has a strong interest in phrenology - the idea that the shape and size of your head can show, and possibly affect, your personality and character. She uses the vulnerable people in prison as subjects to test her theories and to aid her understanding.

I found that I rather liked Ruth and felt so sorry for the way that her life turned out. Listening to the atrocities that she had to suffer in her short life was quite shocking. Dorothea is of a completely different class and has expectations placed upon her, and she has the air of a the privileged about her. I found her quite selfish and self-absorbed at times but I still liked her for her determination to throw off as many of the conventions of the time as she could.

The massive strength of this novel is never knowing if Ruth is guilty of the crimes she is accused of. Dorothea doesn't know and neither does the reader, but I know what I wanted to believe. The two stories are weaved together perfectly and there was even more to it than I could imagine. The ending was inspired, clever and totally unexpected.

The harsh Victorian times, the smells, the atmosphere, the marked contrast between the upper and lower classes are portrayed skilfully and they make for a hard-hitting, quite graphic novel. I don't know the author managed to think up such a darkly fabulous story but she did and it's quite something. This is one talented author.

The Corset is just so intriguing from start to finish as we follow these two women down the paths that life has thrown them down. I found it utterly compelling. show less

A creepy, gothic Victorian novel told from the viewpoints of two very different women, Dorothea Truelove and Ruth Butterham. Dorothea comes from a wealthy family, has a fascination for the shape of people’s heads and visits female criminals in prison as part of her charity works.. One such female is Ruth who is awaiting trial for murder and who believes she has caused deaths via her sewing, a supernatural force.

This is a dark and atmospheric tale with disturbing and ominous undertones. There are subtle hints of menace throughout which only makes it the more unnerving. It’s beautifully written with some brilliant characters, not all particularly pleasant to say the least! It drew me in from the first page and had me in its grip until show more the last. I was utterly engrossed, wondering whether there was a supernatural power at force or if events could easily be explained in a rational way. This is just such an absorbing and mesmerising story, it’s so cleverly plotted with an unexpected and excellent twist at the end. I loved it show less