The Essex Serpent

The Judges Say...

Sam Baker
Co-founder, The Pool
“In a world where megabucks marketing budgets often dictate success, The Essex Serpent is a triumph of intriguing title, compelling storytelling, covetable packaging (that cover!) and an inspired slow-burn publicity campaign. Far from being that difficult second novel, The Essex Serpent is a truly authentic word-of-mouth smash hit.”

Peter Florence
Director, The Hay Festival
“It’s one of the most spectacular publishing successes of our times. Everyone involved has aced it—from the designers and printers to the campaign teams, the editors and, of course, the writer. It’s a classy, thrilling, money-spinning perfect storm of a team win.”

Cathy Rentzenbrink
Author and contributing editor, The Bookseller
“This is a joyous and beguiling novel that made me wish I was a bookseller again so I could press it into the hands of all my customers. Luckily, booksellers up and down the land felt the same and it was a delight to see the care and attention lavished on this book by Serpent’s Tail reap great dividends. The Essex Serpent is a perfect winner of this prize—a stunning book published with love and skill that engaged the entire industry.”

Sarah Shaffi
Online editor and producer, The Bookseller
“The Essex Serpent is a gorgeous book inside and out, and its success is a testament to the hard work, talent and dedication shown at every part of the publishing process, from Perry’s writing through the editing, design, publicity and more, and to the retailers who passionately supported the book.”

Damian Barr
Author and founder, Damian Barr’s Literary Salon
“Serpent’s Tail supported Perry to take risks on the page and ran the kind of campaign writers dream of.”

Dorothy Koomson
Author
“The judging of Book of the Year was incredibly difficult as there were some wonderful candidates. There were many impressive things about Sarah Perry’s The Essex Serpent, both the book and its promotional campaign, that made it the eventual winner. I am pleased for her and her publisher.”

June Sarpong
Presenter and author
“The Essex Serpent is an original and compelling story which has been excellently written. The marketing campaign was well planned and brilliantly executed. All of these elements demonstrate why this book has also been such a phenomenal commercial success.”