Enlightenment

by Sarah Perry
Enlightenment cover
Good Books rating 4.0
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  • ID: 11
  • Added: 2025-08-02
  • Updated: 2025-09-10
  • Formats: 36
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
fringereview.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-09-17
profound 4.50

The reviewer found Sarah Perry's 'Enlightenment' deeply moving and personal, with a strong emotional connection to the protagonist, Thomas Hart. The book explores themes of science, religion, and their interplay, reflecting Perry's own experiences and beliefs. The reviewer was particularly struck by Perry's ability to convey the beauty of the universe and the impact of her writing on their own life.

The reviewer attended a discussion with Sarah Perry at the Edinburgh Book Festival and was deeply affected by her reading from 'Enlightenment'. The book's protagonist, Thomas Hart, has left a lasting impression on the reviewer, who found the exploration of science and religion both profound and personal. Perry's own experiences, including her upbringing in a Calvinist household and her love for astronomy, are woven into the narrative. The reviewer was moved by Perry's description of 'common grace' and the beauty of the universe, which resonated deeply. The book has inspired the reviewer to explore astronomy and appreciate the wonders of the night sky, highlighting the transformative power of Perry's writing.

Quick quotes

    The night is clear, folks.

    Perry has an easy humor and a guiding tone, her answers coming easily and eloquently.

    When you look up at the sky, says Perry (or Hart?), “you are not looking at the universe. You are in it.

hollywrites.com · Unknown · 2025-01-13
intriguing 3.50

The reviewer praises Sarah Perry's 'Enlightenment' for its cosmic strangeness and luxurious, old-fashioned prose, highlighting her ability to make the earthly feel new and strange. They appreciate the novel's exploration of themes like fate and free will, though they find the mystery plot somewhat reliant on serendipity and the queer representation clichéd.

Sarah Perry's 'Enlightenment' is a defiantly old-fashioned tale that showcases her unerring capacity to make the earthly new and strange. The novel follows two misfits, a ghost, and a blazing comet, exploring themes of fate, free will, science, and God. The reviewer appreciates Perry's gorgeous prose and her ability to create a luxurious, unhurried narrative that feels both cosmic and intimate. They note that while the mystery plot is not the strongest, the novel's charm lies in its exploration of the capriciousness of the stars and the human condition. However, they also express some disappointment with the queer representation, finding it wearying and clichéd.

Quick quotes

    All the Perry hallmarks and talismans are here — fans of her breakout novel, The Essex Serpent, will be delighted.

    It’s luxuriously — defiantly — old-fashioned.

    It’s possible to forgive all manner of narrative sins for that kind of astonishment.

shereadsnovels.com · Unknown · 2024-07-15
brilliant 4.50

The reviewer praises Sarah Perry's 'Enlightenment' as a rich, satisfying novel that excels in plot, characters, and atmosphere. They appreciate the deep exploration of astronomy, faith, and love, though they question the nobility of the characters' long-lasting unreturned love. The book's structure and prose are highlighted as particularly strong, making it a resplendent whole.

The reviewer highly recommends 'Enlightenment' by Sarah Perry, describing it as a fat, satisfying, grown-up novel that excels in plot, characters, ideas, structure, and atmosphere. They particularly appreciate Perry's exploration of astronomy, faith, and devotional love, finding the book's structure and prose to be especially strong. The reviewer notes that the book's narrative structure mirrors the orbits of celestial bodies, with characters pulled in different directions by competing forces. They also praise Perry's atmospheric and rhythmic writing style, though they find some repetitions distracting. While the reviewer questions the nobility of the characters' long-lasting unreturned love, they ultimately find the book to be a resplendent whole that shines like a night sky.

Quick quotes

    This is a fat, satisfying, grown-up novel — rich in plot, characters, ideas, structure, and atmosphere.

    Perry writes about the wonder Thomas finds in both the explanations and enduring mysteries of science, and how much that can feel like wonder at God, in a way that is uplifting and profound.

    Enlightenment hangs together as a resplendent whole, shining like a night sky.

theguardian.com · Unknown · 2024-05-02
mixed 3.50

The reviewer adored Sarah Perry's previous novel, The Essex Serpent, but found Enlightenment to be a mixed experience. While they appreciated the rich imagery, existential themes, and the unique relationship between the main characters, they felt the novel lost its way in the middle section. Despite this, they acknowledged its ambition and the deep pleasures it offers, aligning with the Booker Prize judges' assessment.

The reviewer has a history of enjoying Sarah Perry's work, particularly The Essex Serpent, but found Enlightenment to be a more complex read. The novel is set in a small town in Essex and explores themes of love, loneliness, science, and faith through the lives of Thomas Hart and Grace Macaulay. The reviewer was drawn in by the rich imagery and philosophical quotes, and appreciated the exploration of deep existential themes. However, they felt the middle section of the novel lost its way, though it eventually found a satisfying conclusion. The unique relationship between Thomas and Grace, described as a fraternal bond, was a highlight. The reviewer also noted that while they found Perry's writing style mesmerizing, some might find it over-written. Overall, they agreed with the Booker Prize judges that Enlightenment is an ambitious and deeply pleasurable read, despite its flaws.

Quick quotes

    I adored The Essex Serpent when I read it seven years ago; I finished it thinking I would read everything Perry ever wrote. Yet nothing about the very Gothic sounding Melmouth (2018) appealed to me at all.

    It’s a celebration of glorious storytelling, bursting with rich imagery and stuffed full of big existential themes about love and loneliness, science and faith and what it means to really live one’s life.

    I never tired of Thomas’ company, but I can see how some readers might find him annoying. And whilst I found Perry’s writing style mesmerising, I can see how some might call it over-written.

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