Fingersmith

Sue Trinder grows up among thieves. Sue Trinder , an orphan, is raised in the care of Mrs Sucksby in a den of petty criminals in Victorian London. Her mother, a supposed murderess, was hanged when Sue was an infant, and Sue has never known any other life than the bustling, affectionate, and criminal household of Lant Street. Mrs Sucksby , who farms infants and deals in stolen goods, is fiercely protective of Sue , keeping her from the more dangerous aspects of their world. Sue grows up learning the tricks of the trade, but is kept innocent of the worst dangers, cherished as a kind of jewel by

Theme 1: Orphaned Among Thieves

This thread running through Fingersmith gives the story its emotional weight. Sarah Waters weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 2: Gentleman's Proposal

This thread running through Fingersmith gives the story its emotional weight. Sarah Waters weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 3: Becoming Maud's Maid

This thread running through Fingersmith gives the story its emotional weight. Sarah Waters weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

What Readers Say About Fingersmith

Fingersmith has resonated with readers for its emotional honesty and vivid storytelling. Many describe finishing it in a single sitting — drawn forward by Sarah Waters's prose and an almost desperate need to know how it ends.

A Passage Worth Sitting With

"Orphaned Among Thieves" — Sarah Waters, Fingersmith

About the Author

Sarah Waters is the author of Fingersmith. Known for emotionally resonant storytelling, their work has found devoted readers across the globe.