The Dress Lodger
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1999
320
Novel • Fiction
Sunderland, England • 1830s
1999
Adult
18+ years
Set in 1831 Sunderland during a cholera outbreak, Sheri Holman's The Dress Lodger follows fifteen-year-old Gustine, who works as a potter's assistant by day and a prostitute by night to support her son, born with a rare defect. Lending bodies to Dr. Henry Chiver, obsessed with her son's condition, Gustine navigates a crumbling, quarantined city fraught with distrust of medical professionals. The novel contains graphic depictions of body snatching and medical procedures.
Dark
Gritty
Mysterious
Melancholic
Unnerving
8,468 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Sheri Holman's The Dress Lodger is lauded for its evocative portrayal of 1830s England, blending historical fiction with gothic elements. Critics praise its richly detailed setting and complex characters, but some find the narrative dense and the pacing uneven. Overall, it is a compelling, albeit challenging, read suitable for fans of dark, historical narratives.
Readers who enjoy gothic, historical fiction with a dark twist, like Sarah Waters' Fingersmith or Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White, will be captivated by Sheri Holman's The Dress Lodger. The book's vivid depiction of 19th-century England and rich character development are perfect for fans of atmospheric, gritty narratives.
8,468 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
320
Novel • Fiction
Sunderland, England • 1830s
1999
Adult
18+ years
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