Friday, August 8, 2008

Newes from the Dead

NEWES FROM THE DEAD: Mary Hooper: Roaring Book Press: Young Adult: 263 pages

Anne Greene, a servant in 1650, awakes in total darkness unable to move. As Anne lies paralyzed, she recollects her seduction by a young nobleman, the birth and death of her premature child, and the trial that sent her to the gallows as a murderess. Meanwhile, in alternating chapters, doctors preparing to perform an autopsy on Anne’s corpse notice her eyelids flickering and halt the procedure in order to resurrect Anne. This is a fascinating story based on the true story of Anne Greene, who did survive her hanging and was revived on the dissection table, an event that was written up in a pamphlet titled “Newes from the Dead” in 1651.

MBC

1 comment:

curlyq said...

This story is riveting...I could hardly believe Anne had survived a hanging. Her story is written in such a way that you feel great sympathy for her plight; I was agonizing over her comatose state on the dissection table. She becomes more than just a historical figure in this book--she is brought to life.