The Resurrection Men

The Resurrection Men draws inspiration from the notorious legend of Edinburgh’s infamous body snatchers, Burke and Hare. Set in the 1800s, this compelling tale serves as a sharp social critique, vividly portraying the poverty and deprivation endured by the lower classes. The novel exposes the callous exploitation by the upper echelons of society, highlighting how wealthy employers often neglected the welfare of their workers. Particularly, it sheds light on the appalling conditions faced by young children forced to work in the mines, where danger to life and limb was a daily reality.This powerful, grim historical novel employs gallows humour to bring its characters and their struggles to life. As the story unfolds, it raises profound questions: Can desperate circumstances fundamentally change a person’s behaviour? When subjected to extreme poverty, are all humans capable of heinous acts, regardless of their inherent nature? Above all, The Resurrection Men is a poignant love story that will captivate the imagination of any reader, leaving them both moved and reflective.

Jennie Dodd was raised in the picturesque market town of Shrewsbury, famous for its medieval castle, steep narrow streets, little alleyways and timber framed buildings. Situated on the River Severn, the town nestles amongst the ancient Shropshire Hills of the Stiperstones, the Long Mynd, Wenlock Edge and the Wrekin. Educated at the Wakeman Grammar School, Jennie developed a keen interest in art, history and a love of English literature. In recent years, Jennie has developed a particular interest in Scottish history, mythology and folklore. Following a visit to Edinburgh’s Surgeons’ Hall Museum and observing the pocketbook made out of the skin of the infamous body snatcher William Burke, ideas for the storyline behind this novel quickly followed. Issues are raised about the effects life experiences have upon the formation of a person’s character. Can extreme poverty cause a person to act in ways which contradict their own nature? Can it drive them to break the law, and even commit murder?