Product Description

This book is set in London, 1826. Leaving behind his father's tragic failures, Gabriel Swift arrives to study with Edwin Poll, the greatest of the city's anatomists. It is his chance to find advancement by making a name for himself. But instead he finds himself drawn to his master's nemesis, Lucan, the most powerful of the city's resurrectionists and ruler of its trade in stolen bodies. Dismissed by Mr Poll, Gabriel descends into the violence and corruption of London's underworld, a place where everything and everyone is for sale, and where - as Gabriel discovers - the taking of a life is easier than it might seem.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2067 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-19
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Markus Zusak, author of THE BOOK THIEF
'Months after you've turned the last page, James Bradley's words are still with you - brave, compelling, unforgettable.'

Daily Telegraph
'A classically claustrophobic Gothic chiller.'

Big Issue
'An earthy brooding Gothic horror ... Gory at times, philosophical at others, this is atmospheric stuff.'

Customer Reviews

What a let down!
The cover of this novel promises many things, and "Gothic" is one of them, particularly as bodysnatching is its main theme, but I found it a complete disappointment. The writing is disjointed, characters are not developed, and there are umpteen "snapshots" of various people passing through the novel. Also, what I found completely baffling was that it was a Richard and Judy Summer Read choice. The novel is hardly one you would read on the beach, as it is more appropriate for autumn/winter!

Perhaps James Bradley had an impatient editor? I think so, as the book may have been initially a longer one, but has suffered because of excessive editing. Bradley's descriptions of early 19th century London are excellent: its cruelty, poverty and general throwaway attitude to life, but the novel is totall lacking in soul and depth.

I found The Resurrectionist in a local charity shop and thought it might be worth reading. I was wrong. A pity, as the novel could have been so much better.

Awful.
Like many others, I had high hopes for this book because of the setting. Unlike a lot of the other people on here, I actually can sympathise with Gabriel and his descent into addiction and truly dark antics, but I have to agree that the characterisation is atrocious - nobody has any sort of memorable qualities and you will constantly be wondering who is who. The ending in Australia seems tacked on, goes nowhere and is really confusing too.

In all, a waste of your precious time. Worth the one star only for the bit in the middle where Gabriel starts robbing graves - that's the only part where you sense something is actually going to happen and force the characters to act/react.

Buy 'The Minutes of the Lazarus Club' instead.

Hype Over Substance
Another example of hype over substance. This book does not warrant the publicity it received. In the hands of a better writer the story could have been excellent. Sadly it falls flat. Spend your hard earned cash on something else.