The Confessions of Frannie Langton takes on two 19th-century writing conventions, the gothic novel and the slave narrative, and deconstructs them both. The narrator is Frannie Langton, a black woman in London accused of the double murder of her master George Benham and his French wife Marguerite. Frannie claims to be unable to remember the murder and instead writes to her lawyer the story of her life.

Frannie was born into slavery in Jamaica and served a man named Langton who considered himself a scientist dedicated to proving the inferiority of Black people. When Langton brings Frannie to England she ostensibly becomes a free person, but he "gifts" her to Benham, another dubious scientist, and essentially remains a captive. But Franny and Marguerite form a romantic connection which lends Franny both new privileges and greater risks.

Sara Collins performed thorough historical research to support the details of this story and it shows. It's a historical novel but one that reflects on the dark side of humanity, as well as love and justice (or the lack thereof). It's a novel designed to disturb and it does it well. ( )

This is a really powerful book. Narrated by Frannie, a servant and former slave accused of murdering her employer and his wife, this incredibly thought-provoking novel takes us on a journey through Frannie's hard life, from her life on a plantation in Jamaica to service in London. Frannie's life is brutal and tragic, and any joys she has are short-lived and lead to further doom.

At times it reminded me of Atwood's [b:Alias Grace|72579|Alias Grace|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1298545436l/72579._SY75_.jpg|2069530], which I absolutely adored, but also introduces several original elements unique to Frannie's story. The pace was slightly too slow for me at times, but overall this was a great read and a powerful commentary on attitudes towards race, class and gender.


I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way. ( )

I am giving up on this one. It just isn’t moving. There is so much promise, but the story never got enough momentum for me. I might try it again, but I am moving on for now. ( )

3.5* ( )

I was looking forward to this and I was not disappointed. Frannie Langton is a captivatingly written complex character. Spanning her life as a young slave on the the sugar cane plantations of Jamaica to her being 'gifted' to household in London in the 1800s, this book took me on a journey that was, at times, hard to accept. That people have been, and continue to be, so disgusting, horrible, and ignorant is no surprise to me and yet still there were moments that I wanted to turn away. This is not, however, a gratuitous or sensational story. Sara Collins allows Frannie's story to unfold slowly. She takes her time and is deliberate with her words. The Confessions of Frannie Langton is a beautifully written account of the strength of the human spirit despite the ugliness of humanity. ( )