The debut novel by actress and presenter Janet Ellis, The Butcher's Hook is the dark and twisted tale of a young girl in 18th-century London determined to take her life in her own hands. No matter the cost.
The debut novel by actress and presenter Janet Ellis, The Butcher's Hook is the dark and twisted tale of a young girl in 18th-century London determined to take her life in her own hands.No matter the cost.
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PRODUCT INFORMATION
Summary
The debut novel by actress and presenter Janet Ellis, The Butcher's Hook is the dark and twisted tale of a young girl in 18th-century London determined to take her life in her own hands. No matter the cost.
The debut novel by actress and presenter Janet Ellis, The Butcher's Hook is the dark and twisted tale of a young girl in 18th-century London determined to take her life in her own hands.No matter the cost.
Description
Georgian London, in the summer of 1763.
At nineteen, Anne Jaccob, the elder daughter of well-to-do parents, meets Fub the butcher's apprentice and is awakened to the possibilities of joy and passion. Anne lives a sheltered life: her home is a miserable place and her parents have already chosen a more suitable husband for her than Fub. But Anne is an unusual young woman and is determined to pursue her own happiness in her own way... even if that means getting a little blood on her hands.Awards
Long-listed for Desmond Elliott Prize 2016
Critic Reviews
“The Butcher's Hook doesn't read like a first novel - it is a high-finish performance. Its heroine is an 18th-century teenage girl, who starts demurely although her sex drive turns out to be anything but demure. You need to be braced for violence to rival any Jacobean tragedy: The Butcher's Hook will hook you. - Observer This is a dark, weird, gloriously feminist story of a girl in 1763 pushing against the limits of her role and a dark love story. - Elle This author remains one to watch.She has a sharp eye and a sharper wit.More importantly still, she possesses a subtle and compassionate understanding of the human heart - Guardian Ellis has a public personality of great charm, and a good deal of this gets into her writing... she revels in the historical details, has a grasp of pace and knows how to keep her audience hooked - The Times Ellis weaves her tale with deft skill, striking imagery and a boldness rare in a first novel - Mail on Sunday A story of dispassionate, bloody brilliance rich in believable period detail - Metro A gripping girl-power story - Sun Ellis has created something marvellous in the character of Anne Jaccob - her voice is strange, dark and utterly mesmeric. This is historical fiction as I've never encountered it before: full of viscera, snarling humour and obsessive desire. I loved it. - Hannah Kent”
The Butcher's Hook doesn't read like a first novel - it is a high-finish performance. Its heroine is an 18th-century teenage girl, who starts demurely although her sex drive turns out to be anything but demure. You need to be braced for violence to rival any Jacobean tragedy: The Butcher's Hook will hook you. - Observer
This is a dark, weird, gloriously feminist story of a girl in 1763 pushing against the limits of her role and a dark love story. - ElleThis author remains one to watch. She has a sharp eye and a sharper wit. More importantly still, she possesses a subtle and compassionate understanding of the human heart - GuardianEllis has a public personality of great charm, and a good deal of this gets into her writing... she revels in the historical details, has a grasp of pace and knows how to keep her audience hooked - The TimesEllis weaves her tale with deft skill, striking imagery and a boldness rare in a first novel - Mail on SundayA story of dispassionate, bloody brilliance rich in believable period detail - MetroA gripping girl-power story - SunEllis has created something marvellous in the character of Anne Jaccob - her voice is strange, dark and utterly mesmeric. This is historical fiction as I've never encountered it before: full of viscera, snarling humour and obsessive desire. I loved it. - Hannah KentAbout the Author
Janet Ellis trained as an actress at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She is best known for presenting Blue Peter and contributes to numerous radio and TV programmes.
A graduate of the Curtis Brown creative writing course, The Butcher's Hook is her first novel, and she is currently working on her next.In 2016 Janet was awarded an MBE for services to charities and theatre. janetellis.comtwitter.com/missjanetellisinstagram.com/missjanetellis The Butcher's Hook is also available as an audio digital download, narrated by Janet herself.Georgian London, in the summer of 1763. At nineteen, Anne Jaccob, the elder daughter of well-to-do parents, meets Fub the butcher's apprentice and is awakened to the possibilities of joy and passion. Anne lives a sheltered life: her home is a miserable place and her parents have already chosen a more suitable husband for her than Fub. But Anne is an unusual young woman and is determined to pursue her own happiness in her own way... even if that means getting a little blood on her hands.
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