A Life Sentence is a literary fiction novel by Adeline Sergeant, an English writer from the 19th century. The novel follows a trial for a murder of a respected member of the community called Mr. Vane, who left a widow and children behind. The accused and sentenced man is called Andrew Westwood, a man known by the community of the county to be prone to violence and was in possession of a gun-a murder weapon-for his poaching habits.
Nobody has actually seen Andrew commit the crime and shoot the poor Mr. Vane but based on circumstantial evidence and witness accounts he is the one responsible. Andrew Westwood furiously denies, but by doing so, digs an even deeper hole for himself.
The novel's genre is literary fiction, meaning that it explores themes concerned with societal issues and the human state. It explores themes of deception and jealousy, revenge entangled with the intrigue of a murder story.
