The Bottom Line
Kathleen Kent’s debut novel, The Heretic’s Daughter, tells the story of the Salem Witch Trials. It’s a story that’s been told many times before, but Kent manages to bring fresh passion and urgency to the tragic hysteria that gripped New England in 1692.
Pros
- Kent accurately nails the period rhythm and language of her characters.
Cons
- The first half of the book drags a little, spending too much time building to the critical events
Description
- 'The Heretic's Daughter' by Kathleen Kent was released on September 3, 2008
- Publisher: Little, Brown
- 352 Pages
Guide Review - 'The Heretic's Daughter' by Kathleen Kent - Book Review
Sarah Carrier is a young girl growing up in Andover, Massachusetts, near the town of Salem. She and her family work as farmers, and Sarah has a tense relationship with her mother, whose stubborn refusal to conform to the town’s expectations frustrates Sarah. A few towns over, in Salem, young girls begin accusing many of witchcraft, and Sarah’s mother soon joins the list of accused who are thrown in jail.
The story of the Salem Witch Trials is familiar to many, but Kathleen Kent’s novel about the Carrier family effectively personalizes the tragedy of those left to languish in prison or hanged for the crime of witchcraft. Kent is an excellent writer, and she captures the language, figures, and philosophy of life in 17th-century New England.
The Heretic’s Daughter is a moving and finely crafted novel worth reading for its history and the power of its story.
