Alias Grace Summary

In 1859, Grace Marks, a woman serving a life sentence for her part in two murders, has been behaving well in the prison. This good behavior leads to terms of her imprisonment being softened, allowing her to work as a housekeeper in the Governor's household. The Governor's wife, along with a group of reformers including Reverend Verringer, are convinced of Grace's innocence and have tried multiple times to secure her pardon. Their efforts are rekindled when Dr. Simon Jordan, a doctor with an interest in psychology, arrives in Kingston to help Grace recover her lost memories of the murders.

Dr. Jordan believes that by restoring Grace's memories, he can not only ascertain her guilt or innocence but also gain valuable insights into the human mind. The two meet regularly in the sewing room of the Governor's house, where Grace is initially wary of Dr. Jordan and his unusual strategies for memory recovery. She eventually warms up to him and begins recounting her life story, leading up to the murders. The narrative thus alternates between the present and Grace's past, beginning with her childhood in Ireland, moving to Canada with her family, her mother's death, and her father's descent into alcoholism.

Grace's life takes a tragic turn when her friend and fellow servant, Mary Whitney, dies from a botched abortion. Seeking work, Grace ends up in a wealthier household, working alongside Nancy Montgomery and James McDermott. The tension between the servants escalates, culminating in McDermott murdering Nancy and their employer, Mr. Kinnear, while Grace's memory blanks out the details. As Dr. Jordan delves deeper into Grace's recollections, he becomes increasingly uncertain about her truthfulness and his own sanity. Eventually, he brings in Dr. DuPont to hypnotize Grace, leading to a bizarre confession from a voice claiming to be Mary Whitney. The voice absolves Grace of the murders, leaving Dr. Jordan more confused than ever. Grace eventually secures a pardon after thirteen more years in prison, travels to the US, marries an old acquaintance, and lives on, sewing pieces of her past into a quilt.