The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent, 332 pages.
More than a history lesson, this book is a story chronicling a way of life for the Carrier family in the 1690s. We see it all through the eyes of young Sarah - her struggles with her parents, the desire for closeness and connection that has no place in her family where hard work is valued and affection is disdained. When Sarah's mother Martha is accused of witchcraft, Sarah's strength and loyalty are tested.
What makes this novel all the more fascinating, the author Kathleen Kent, is a descendant of Martha Carrier. Can you imagine growing up with this as part of your family history? I am curious to know which parts are fictionalized, as it all seems so real. She has woven an engrossing story, crafted not only by research but by a haunting family legacy.
It just serves to illustrate again the many holes in my education. Since I'm practically a Puritan, I am eager to learn more about the Christian view of what occurred. Yeah, yeah, boo hiss. For while I don't want to in any way gloss over the fear and horror of what it must have been like to live as one of the accused, there are two sides to every story... and I have a hard time believing that after all their struggles to establish a settlement, the religious leaders took any pleasure in dismantling it. But the point of this book is to capture the spirit of fear for the Carrier family, and it was successful in passing it along to the reader.
My thanks to Hatchette Book Group for the preview. The Heretic's Daughter is available today, right now, so go get one. And it's on this month's indie next list. So, it's a keeper.
4 stars.
The End.
If you want more info on the Salem Witch Trials:
www.nationalgeographic.com/salem/
There is also a passage in The Light and the Glory (pp. 234-239) that touches on Cotton Mather and his colleagues. One of the judges, Samuel Sewall, "Fearful that he might have condemned some innocents to death at Salem, he did the only thing a committed Christian under heavy conviction can do: he publicly repented for what he had done." (p.238)
See also:
by Arthur Miller
- The Salem Witch Trials: A Day by Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege by Marilynne K. Roach
- Salem Witch Judge: The Life and Repentance of Samuel Sewall by Eve Leplante
If any of your readers are interested in this book, come over and see me, I am giving away 3 copies of this!
Posted by: Tara | September 03, 2008 at 11:06 AM