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53 pages 1 hour read

The Confessions of Frannie Langton

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019

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Book Brief

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Sara Collins

The Confessions of Frannie Langton

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019
Book Details
Pages

384

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London • 1820s

Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins follows Frannie Langton, a young Black woman in early-19th-century London, who is on trial for the murder of her employers. Through her writings, she recounts her experiences from being enslaved on a Jamaican plantation to her complex and fraught relationship with her English mistress, offering a vivid portrayal of slavery, racism, and societal injustices. This book discusses scientific racism and eugenics, slavery, violence against women and sex workers, child death, miscarriage, lynching, drug addiction, public execution, torture, and suicide, and uses racist language in the context of enslaved people's experiences.

Mysterious

Dark

Contemplative

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

3.8

21,020 ratings

58%

Loved it

31%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins is widely praised for its vivid prose and complex characters. The novel's historical context is engaging, though some readers found the pacing uneven. Themes of race, identity, and love are deftly handled, although a few critics noted predictable plot twists. Overall, it's a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Confessions of Frannie Langton?

A reader who enjoys The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins would appreciate historical fiction with elements of mystery, romance, and gothic undertones. Fans of The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory or Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys will find this novel captivating due to its rich period detail and complex, flawed heroine.

3.8

21,020 ratings

58%

Loved it

31%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

Character List

Frances “Frannie” Langton

An intelligent young Black woman brought to London from Jamaica, who becomes a servant in the Benham household. She is the protagonist and narrator of the story, sharing her tale through a manuscript written in jail.

The beautiful and charismatic French-born wife of George Benham, who forms a complex and intimate bond with Frannie. Known for her eccentric behavior, she challenges the societal norms of London’s upper class.

The housekeeper of the Benham residence and an antagonist of the story, known for her strict enforcement of social order and her racist antagonism towards Frannie. She attempts to control and belittle Frannie at every opportunity.

Husband to Meg and an antagonist, who presents himself as a benevolent and intellectual man while exhibiting a lack of empathy and entitlement. His actions highlight his deeply entrenched societal privilege.

Book Details
Pages

384

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London • 1820s

Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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