A dazzlingly inventive tale of troubled legacies, desire and unsung power, inspired by The Scarlet Letter.
Glasgow, 1829: Isobel, a young seamstress, and her husband Edward set sail for New England, in flight from his mounting debts and addictions. But, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts, Edward soon takes off again, and Isobel finds herself penniless and alone.
Then she meets Nathaniel, a fledgling writer, and the two are instantly drawn to each other: he is haunted by his ancestors, who sent innocent women to the gallows during the Salem witch trials – while she is an unusually gifted needleworker, troubled by her own strange talents. Nathaniel and Isobel grow ever closer. Together, they are dark storyteller and muse; enchanter and enchanted. But which is which?
Publisher: Duckworth Books
ISBN: 9780715654842
Number of pages: 336
Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm
'Like the greatest historical fiction, Hester makes you believe utterly' Gillian Flynn, international bestselling author of Gone Girl
‘Full of lush and colourful prose, Hester proves that a woman will do whatever she must to prosper, even when she is left with nothing but courage – and a few secrets of her own’ Sarah Penner, bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
‘A masterpiece that should be required reading alongside Hawthorne’s classic tale of adultery. Enthralling, ambitious and a total knockout’ Fiona Davis, bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue
‘A luminous blend of fiction and truth, Hester weaves a spellbinding tapestry of Salem history as it has never been told before’ Afia Atakora, author of Conjure Women
Hester isn't so much a retelling of The Scarlet Letter as Lico Albanese's take on "what if Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote that story based on his own life" - it's not necessary to have read the... More
It’s the early 1800s and Isobel, a seamstress who feels isolated and alone, even with company in her hometown of Glasgow, meets a man who she thinks could save her from a life of solitude: he is dashing, charming, and... More
I loved this book! It is amazing!
I am sure you can guess, but as a bookseller, I read a lot of books. Thus, I have high expectations when starting a new book - this novel by Laurie Lico Albenese exceeded my...
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