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.

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.

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

- The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins won the Costa Book Award for First Novel in 2019, marking the author's remarkable debut into historical fiction.
- Sara Collins was inspired to write the novel due to her love for Gothic fiction and a desire to see more diverse characters represented within that genre.
- Before becoming an author, Sara Collins had a career as a lawyer, which she left to pursue a master's degree in creative writing and eventually penned The Confessions of Frannie Langton.

**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.

**Marguerite “Meg” Benham**  
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.

**Mrs. Linux**  
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.

**George Benham**  
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.

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