Status
Checked out
Due 10 Jun 2024
Description
Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft. This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.
User reviews
LibraryThing member thetometraveller
" A needle is such a small, brittle thing. It is easily broken. It can hold but one fragile thread. But if the needle is sharp, it can pierce the coarsest cloth. Ply the needle in and out of a canvas and with a great length of thread one can make a sail to move a ship across the ocean. In such a
Massachusetts, 1690. In a society of fiercely Puritan people every misfortune is attributed to the will of God. Crops failing, fires, storms, sickness, all portents from God meant to punish. Such an atmosphere made the perfect setting for a group of silly girls to instigate a mass hysteria, claiming to be the victims of spells put upon them by fellow neighbors and residents of surrounding towns.
One of those accused of witchcraft was Martha Carrier. This is her story and that of her family. When the smallpox came to their home town of Billerica, Martha, her husband Thomas and children fled to the home of her Mother in Andover. When people subsequently came down with the smallpox in Andover, suspicion was thrown on the Carrier family. It did not help that Martha was a feisty woman who said what she thought and confronted her neighbors when disputes arose. Women at the time were supposed to be quiet and subservient to men, so she and her family did not make many friends.
The narrative is told through the eyes of Martha's daughter, Sarah, who is nine years old when the book opens. Since Martha does not have an affectionate nature, Sarah doesn't realize, until it is too late, how great her love for her Mother is and that strength of character might be more important than affection. Through one selfless and heroic act Martha sacrifices herself to save her children and in doing so teaches them the importance of faith in oneself and the power of family.
In her debut novel, Kathleen Kent explores one of the darkest periods of American history and takes the reader into the realms of her own family legend. Ms. Kent is a tenth generation descendant of Martha Carrier and grew up hearing the stories of her ancestors. She has presented us with a rich and historically accurate tale that, in my opinion, is one of the best books of the year. She is currently working on a prequel, the story of Thomas Carrier before he came to Massachusetts.
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way can a sharp gossipy tongue, with the thinnest thread of rumor, stitch together a story to flap in the breeze. Hoist that story upon the pillar of superstitious belief and a whole town can be pulled along with the wind of fear."Massachusetts, 1690. In a society of fiercely Puritan people every misfortune is attributed to the will of God. Crops failing, fires, storms, sickness, all portents from God meant to punish. Such an atmosphere made the perfect setting for a group of silly girls to instigate a mass hysteria, claiming to be the victims of spells put upon them by fellow neighbors and residents of surrounding towns.
One of those accused of witchcraft was Martha Carrier. This is her story and that of her family. When the smallpox came to their home town of Billerica, Martha, her husband Thomas and children fled to the home of her Mother in Andover. When people subsequently came down with the smallpox in Andover, suspicion was thrown on the Carrier family. It did not help that Martha was a feisty woman who said what she thought and confronted her neighbors when disputes arose. Women at the time were supposed to be quiet and subservient to men, so she and her family did not make many friends.
The narrative is told through the eyes of Martha's daughter, Sarah, who is nine years old when the book opens. Since Martha does not have an affectionate nature, Sarah doesn't realize, until it is too late, how great her love for her Mother is and that strength of character might be more important than affection. Through one selfless and heroic act Martha sacrifices herself to save her children and in doing so teaches them the importance of faith in oneself and the power of family.
In her debut novel, Kathleen Kent explores one of the darkest periods of American history and takes the reader into the realms of her own family legend. Ms. Kent is a tenth generation descendant of Martha Carrier and grew up hearing the stories of her ancestors. She has presented us with a rich and historically accurate tale that, in my opinion, is one of the best books of the year. She is currently working on a prequel, the story of Thomas Carrier before he came to Massachusetts.
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LibraryThing member elbakerone
The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent chronicles the life of Sarah Carrier, a young girl whose mother Martha Carrier is accused and condemned in the Salem Witch Trials. The story is beautifully painted with rich historical details and the realism of the novel is quite astounding.
Told through
Kathleen Kent is a descendant of the Carriers so her emotional attachment to the characters and real events add great impact to the plot. Although this is her first novel, her talent as a writer is clearly showcased and I will be seeking out her name in future works.
Told through
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Sarah's perspective of youth and innocence the horrors of the Witch Trials become the impetus for her maturity. As her character develops through the novel, a poignant story of friendship, family ties, love and betrayal is woven around her. Kathleen Kent is a descendant of the Carriers so her emotional attachment to the characters and real events add great impact to the plot. Although this is her first novel, her talent as a writer is clearly showcased and I will be seeking out her name in future works.
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LibraryThing member mrstreme
There are many dark points in American history, and one of the earliest was the Salem Witch Trials. Kathleen Kent, author of The Heretic’s Daughter, based her debut book on her ancestor, Martha Carrier, who was executed for witchcraft. Kent researched extensively her ancestry and this time
The story was told from the perspective of Sarah Carrier, Martha’s daughter. Through Sarah’s eyes, we learned about the Puritan lifestyle that formed the backdrop for the witch trials. It’s amazing to look back at the “evidence” now – the obvious shenanigans of young girls who grasped their moment of power, despite the horrid outcomes. Though all of those accused were later cleared of their crimes (often posthumously), Kent’s explanation of how reasonable people were swept up into the hysteria was enlightening.
All of the characters in The Heretic’s Daughter were well developed. Sarah misunderstood the love of her mother, who seemed hard and unaffectionate, until the weeks before her execution, when she realized that Martha’s love for her family was endless. Sarah’s father, Thomas, and her brothers were depicted as stoic yet vulnerable. The Carrier family was a pleasure to read about – complete with their faults, strengths and boundless love for each other.
If you are interested in historical fiction, then I would highly recommend The Heretic’s Daughter to you. I enjoyed this book immensely and gained a deeper appreciation for this tragic time of our history.
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period, and the end result was a book that was gripping and heart wrenching.The story was told from the perspective of Sarah Carrier, Martha’s daughter. Through Sarah’s eyes, we learned about the Puritan lifestyle that formed the backdrop for the witch trials. It’s amazing to look back at the “evidence” now – the obvious shenanigans of young girls who grasped their moment of power, despite the horrid outcomes. Though all of those accused were later cleared of their crimes (often posthumously), Kent’s explanation of how reasonable people were swept up into the hysteria was enlightening.
All of the characters in The Heretic’s Daughter were well developed. Sarah misunderstood the love of her mother, who seemed hard and unaffectionate, until the weeks before her execution, when she realized that Martha’s love for her family was endless. Sarah’s father, Thomas, and her brothers were depicted as stoic yet vulnerable. The Carrier family was a pleasure to read about – complete with their faults, strengths and boundless love for each other.
If you are interested in historical fiction, then I would highly recommend The Heretic’s Daughter to you. I enjoyed this book immensely and gained a deeper appreciation for this tragic time of our history.
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LibraryThing member avisannschild
I must confess that I initially felt reluctant to read this book. Although I was intrigued by the premise—it is the story of Martha Carrier, one of the so-called Salem witches, as told by her daughter Sarah—I was also worried the story would be grim, with too many gory details of what was done
The Heretic’s Daughter is primarily the story of Martha and Sarah’s difficult mother-daughter relationship, set against the backdrop of the horrors of the Salem witch trials, arguably one of the worst periods of American history. I loved the language in this book—it felt authentic without being overwrought or difficult to follow. I also loved the use of dreams throughout the book to illustrate Sarah’s state of mind. Finally, since I’m an amateur genealogist myself, I’m always curious to see how authors translate their family history into fiction. This novel paints a vivid portrait of life in Puritan New England in the late 17th century, but above all it is a tribute to Martha Carrier and her daughter: a moving story about courage and the power of love. I highly recommend it.
A slightly different version of this review can be found on my blog, she reads and reads.
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to the accused. In fact, my fears were completely unfounded—while Kent, a direct descendant of Martha Carrier, doesn’t gloss over the atrocities committed in the name of religion during this period, she also doesn’t linger on the more disturbing details. Once I’d started the book, I couldn’t put it down—I stayed up half the night to finish it. It is, quite simply, the best book I’ve read all year.The Heretic’s Daughter is primarily the story of Martha and Sarah’s difficult mother-daughter relationship, set against the backdrop of the horrors of the Salem witch trials, arguably one of the worst periods of American history. I loved the language in this book—it felt authentic without being overwrought or difficult to follow. I also loved the use of dreams throughout the book to illustrate Sarah’s state of mind. Finally, since I’m an amateur genealogist myself, I’m always curious to see how authors translate their family history into fiction. This novel paints a vivid portrait of life in Puritan New England in the late 17th century, but above all it is a tribute to Martha Carrier and her daughter: a moving story about courage and the power of love. I highly recommend it.
A slightly different version of this review can be found on my blog, she reads and reads.
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LibraryThing member schmadeke
Kathleen Kent's debut novel is an intimate look at the Salem witch trials through the eyes of a child, 10 year-old Sarah Carrier, whose mother has been convicted of being a witch. In the Heretic's Daughter, Kent gives us educational and enlightening historical fiction, wrapped up in a compelling
Kent does a marvelous job recreating the time period. The manner in which characters related to one another, as well as the dialogue and setting, feels very authentic. The frenzy and hysteria that surrounded the witch trials comes across loud and clear. There is a feeling of darkness, of very bad things to come, that hangs over the entire book.
It is impossible not to feel appalled at the irrational fears that gripped the townspeople and allowed them to stand by, or worse, participate as innocent women and men were sentenced to death, or imprisoned in inhumane conditions.
One of the most touching aspects of this story is the relationship between Sarah and her mother Martha Carrier. In the beginning, the relationship seemed so cold and frustrated. Sarah resented her mother for being strong, stubborn, independent and yes, somewhat distant.
But her feelings for her mother blossomed and grew visibly softer over the course of the story. Sarah came to recognize and understand her mother's love. She eventually respected and even admired the qualities that she formerly resented in her mother, recognizing them for what they were: honorable, progressive, and passed down from mother to daughter.
Martha Carrier as a woman and mother was a little difficult for me to relate to. I admired her bravery and dedication to the truth. I understood her desire to take a stand and refute the false accusations that were being leveled, but how did she stand for truth at the risk of leaving her children without a mother? She advised her children to lie in order to save their own lives, but she refused to do the same. Throughout the book, I found myself thinking about how I would have reacted in the same very difficult situation.
In recounting the story of her distant relative through a fictional medium, Kathleen Kent has given us a gripping and thought-provoking historical novel.
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story with engaging characters. She draws the reader into the dark, foreboding world of late 1600's New England where religious fanaticism trumps justice and is a vehicle by which the offended and embittered seek revenge. Kent does a marvelous job recreating the time period. The manner in which characters related to one another, as well as the dialogue and setting, feels very authentic. The frenzy and hysteria that surrounded the witch trials comes across loud and clear. There is a feeling of darkness, of very bad things to come, that hangs over the entire book.
It is impossible not to feel appalled at the irrational fears that gripped the townspeople and allowed them to stand by, or worse, participate as innocent women and men were sentenced to death, or imprisoned in inhumane conditions.
One of the most touching aspects of this story is the relationship between Sarah and her mother Martha Carrier. In the beginning, the relationship seemed so cold and frustrated. Sarah resented her mother for being strong, stubborn, independent and yes, somewhat distant.
But her feelings for her mother blossomed and grew visibly softer over the course of the story. Sarah came to recognize and understand her mother's love. She eventually respected and even admired the qualities that she formerly resented in her mother, recognizing them for what they were: honorable, progressive, and passed down from mother to daughter.
Martha Carrier as a woman and mother was a little difficult for me to relate to. I admired her bravery and dedication to the truth. I understood her desire to take a stand and refute the false accusations that were being leveled, but how did she stand for truth at the risk of leaving her children without a mother? She advised her children to lie in order to save their own lives, but she refused to do the same. Throughout the book, I found myself thinking about how I would have reacted in the same very difficult situation.
In recounting the story of her distant relative through a fictional medium, Kathleen Kent has given us a gripping and thought-provoking historical novel.
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LibraryThing member msjessicamae
The Heretic’s Daughter is the story of Sarah Carrier and how she barely survived the Salem witch trials. After small pox reaches her family, Sarah and her infant sister go to live with the aunt she doesn’t know. After taking them in, Sarah’s aunt, uncle and cousin take her and her sister more
This beautifully written story takes you not only through the dramatic witch craze, but also through the life of a girl trying to live. Sarah is an extraordinary girl who is forced to overcome some of the most unbearable circumstances of that time.
This is not just another story about the Salem witch trials (although I probably would have love it the same even if it was) but it is a story about Massachusetts from 1690-1692. This book brought to life the other fears of the time, such as small pox and Indian attacks as well as the fight just to have enough food each year. Then, on top of all the things they must endure, they are suddenly fighting against crazy accusations.
For the first time I saw the Salem witch trials not just as an insane period but as a true event. This book touched me with a reality that no other book of the time has done before. I finally saw past the fear, back-stabbing, and drama and began to understand that many people had to create a life in jail. Kent portrays this life in a way that I have not fully understood until now.
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warmth than Sarah has ever known from her mother. When Sarah moves back in with her parents, she experiences the brutality of witchcraft accusations as well as gaining a better understanding of her mother and father. This beautifully written story takes you not only through the dramatic witch craze, but also through the life of a girl trying to live. Sarah is an extraordinary girl who is forced to overcome some of the most unbearable circumstances of that time.
This is not just another story about the Salem witch trials (although I probably would have love it the same even if it was) but it is a story about Massachusetts from 1690-1692. This book brought to life the other fears of the time, such as small pox and Indian attacks as well as the fight just to have enough food each year. Then, on top of all the things they must endure, they are suddenly fighting against crazy accusations.
For the first time I saw the Salem witch trials not just as an insane period but as a true event. This book touched me with a reality that no other book of the time has done before. I finally saw past the fear, back-stabbing, and drama and began to understand that many people had to create a life in jail. Kent portrays this life in a way that I have not fully understood until now.
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LibraryThing member gaskella
The subject-matter of The Heretic's Daughter is as unsettling as the stare of the young girl on the cover. The background is the hard Puritan life in New England at the time of the Salem witch trials. The author is a tenth generation descendant of the Carrier family whose life is told within, so it
The narrative is told entirely through the eyes of nine year old Sarah who has to go and live with her aunt and uncle when smallpox comes to their community. The rest of her family stay with her grandmother in Andover near Salem, but unwittingly they took the pox with them there - not a good start to life in a new town. In these opening chapters, much is made of the difference in character between her aloof parents and warmer relatives. When Sarah returns to her parents, a feud soon develops between the families over the inheritance of her grandmother's estate. Sarah, being just a child finds it hard to understand the adults' enmity.
In the second part of the novel, the Salem witch trials are wreaking havoc amongst these communities. Sadly, Sarah's herbalist mother's reputation for plain-speaking, together with foment whipped up by the family feud leads to her being denounced as a witch. Refusing to admit to this, Martha is jailed in Salem, along with those whose names we may be familiar with from Arthur Miller's play The Crucible. Then, they come for Sarah and her brothers. The story tells of the terrible conditions in the cells at Salem, of Martha's moral strength in the face of certain death, and her bonds with Sarah.
The first half of this novel was rather overlong, although we certainly do get a feel for their hard lives of toil and living under fear of attack from the natives. There was little hint of the poisonous paranoia that would later infect the community like an epidemic though. All the while, the preachers postured and played at politics with their flocks, until the actions of a group of silly girls set it all off and we know what happened.
Telling the story through the eyes of a child does give a different perspective; Sarah has to grow up fast and learn to do whatever she must to survive. A sub-plot about the early career of Sarah's father before he emigrated, goes nowhere and detracts slightly from the focus on the witch-trials. Compared with The Crucible, (and that is impossible to ignore), I felt it was emotionally much less involving, but this book was nevertheless a very readable debut. (Book supplied by the Amazon Vine programme.)
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is based on a true story.The narrative is told entirely through the eyes of nine year old Sarah who has to go and live with her aunt and uncle when smallpox comes to their community. The rest of her family stay with her grandmother in Andover near Salem, but unwittingly they took the pox with them there - not a good start to life in a new town. In these opening chapters, much is made of the difference in character between her aloof parents and warmer relatives. When Sarah returns to her parents, a feud soon develops between the families over the inheritance of her grandmother's estate. Sarah, being just a child finds it hard to understand the adults' enmity.
In the second part of the novel, the Salem witch trials are wreaking havoc amongst these communities. Sadly, Sarah's herbalist mother's reputation for plain-speaking, together with foment whipped up by the family feud leads to her being denounced as a witch. Refusing to admit to this, Martha is jailed in Salem, along with those whose names we may be familiar with from Arthur Miller's play The Crucible. Then, they come for Sarah and her brothers. The story tells of the terrible conditions in the cells at Salem, of Martha's moral strength in the face of certain death, and her bonds with Sarah.
The first half of this novel was rather overlong, although we certainly do get a feel for their hard lives of toil and living under fear of attack from the natives. There was little hint of the poisonous paranoia that would later infect the community like an epidemic though. All the while, the preachers postured and played at politics with their flocks, until the actions of a group of silly girls set it all off and we know what happened.
Telling the story through the eyes of a child does give a different perspective; Sarah has to grow up fast and learn to do whatever she must to survive. A sub-plot about the early career of Sarah's father before he emigrated, goes nowhere and detracts slightly from the focus on the witch-trials. Compared with The Crucible, (and that is impossible to ignore), I felt it was emotionally much less involving, but this book was nevertheless a very readable debut. (Book supplied by the Amazon Vine programme.)
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LibraryThing member mandolin
This story of the historic witch trials is told through the perspective of a young girl whose mother was taken and eventually hanged for witchcraft. The book was loosely based on a real life ancestor of the author. It's incredible to read about how little it took to convince the masses that people
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were doing the devil's bidding, regardless of any logic to the contrary. Those who lied and admitted to witchcraft were the lucky ones....they were imprisoned and put into cells to rot. Children were not spared, because even a four year old could be possessed by the devil. It's hard to believe that there was ever such a time that inhumanity and paranoia could control a society the way it did during that time. The Heretic's Daughter is a chilling read, if for nothing else, because of the intimate look at a society gone mad. Show Less
LibraryThing member angela.vaughn
I started this book because of a review I read. I was quick to find out that the reviewer had no idea what they where talking about (no one on this site). However, we both enjoyed it very much.
The story gives you a fresh angle on an "old" subject. You get wrapped up in the characters' lives and
I have given my copy to several people to borrow and everyone of them have liked it for different reasons. It seems to have something for everyone.
The story gives you a fresh angle on an "old" subject. You get wrapped up in the characters' lives and
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you feel for them all in a way you just don't think is possible. That time in our history, as with so many, people felt trapped between doing the right thing and their freedom. Just be prepared to be sad and upset.I have given my copy to several people to borrow and everyone of them have liked it for different reasons. It seems to have something for everyone.
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LibraryThing member sandrajoan
This book had some great character development. I really liked the growth shown by the main character and the relationship she had with her family members. I was shocked to hear how pitiful the conditions were in the jail for those accused of witchcraft in Salem and the surrounding areas.
LibraryThing member writestuff
The Salem witch trials of 1692, fueled by superstition and the inflammatory writings of Cotton Mather, ended with the deaths of 20 people and the imprisonment of dozens of others - mostly women and children. One of the hanged women was Martha Carrier, a distant relative of author Kathleen Kent. The
The novel begins in December 1690 with the Carrier family’s move from Billerica, Massachusetts to Andover. Unbeknownst to them, they bring with them a microscopic demon - smallpox. Later, when the family sickens, they will be blamed for the deaths of thirteen people in the Andover area - an accusation which later plays a role in the trial of Martha Carrier.
Sarah’s relationship with her mother is a centerpiece of the novel. Kent skillfully shows the tension between mother and daughter and the ambivalence which characterizes their relationship. As the story unfolds, and Martha is faced with the unthinkable, Sarah realizes she must do something no daughter should be asked to do: testify against her mother to save her own life and the lives of her brothers.
Kent does not spare her readers the horror which faced children as young as 4 years old during this terrible time in history. She weaves a tale of almost unimaginable terror. Richly atmospheric and narrated by the unforgettable voice of Sarah, this novel refuses to be laid aside. In Kent’s skilled hands, Martha is portrayed as a difficult yet courageous woman…a woman who refused to lie to save her own life, but instead stood before a merciless courtroom and scoffed at the fragile “evidence” which named her a witch.
Readers will be touched by Sarah who must grow up before her time and bear witness to the hysteria which costs her mother her life.
Highly recommended, especially for historical fiction lovers.
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Heretic’s Daughter is a novel based on this historical figure and the events surrounding the Salem witch trials. Narrated by Martha’s eldest daughter - 10 year old Sarah - the novel is a powerful and disturbing look at how fear and superstition devastated one family.The novel begins in December 1690 with the Carrier family’s move from Billerica, Massachusetts to Andover. Unbeknownst to them, they bring with them a microscopic demon - smallpox. Later, when the family sickens, they will be blamed for the deaths of thirteen people in the Andover area - an accusation which later plays a role in the trial of Martha Carrier.
Sarah’s relationship with her mother is a centerpiece of the novel. Kent skillfully shows the tension between mother and daughter and the ambivalence which characterizes their relationship. As the story unfolds, and Martha is faced with the unthinkable, Sarah realizes she must do something no daughter should be asked to do: testify against her mother to save her own life and the lives of her brothers.
Kent does not spare her readers the horror which faced children as young as 4 years old during this terrible time in history. She weaves a tale of almost unimaginable terror. Richly atmospheric and narrated by the unforgettable voice of Sarah, this novel refuses to be laid aside. In Kent’s skilled hands, Martha is portrayed as a difficult yet courageous woman…a woman who refused to lie to save her own life, but instead stood before a merciless courtroom and scoffed at the fragile “evidence” which named her a witch.
Readers will be touched by Sarah who must grow up before her time and bear witness to the hysteria which costs her mother her life.
Highly recommended, especially for historical fiction lovers.
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LibraryThing member CasualFriday
In Kathleen Kent's debut novel, Sarah Carrier, the daughter of a woman hanged for witchcraft in Massachusetts, recounts the story of the Salem witch hunts.
By telling the Salem story through the eyes of one child, Kent does a good job in making these historical events real and immediate. The
It's a page turner with a little meat to it, and characters that breathe. What's not to like?
(Side note: one thing I learned while reading the book is that torture is not necessarily an effective way to get at the truth. Imagine that.)
By telling the Salem story through the eyes of one child, Kent does a good job in making these historical events real and immediate. The
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characters are complex; only one, the family servant, is presented as thoroughly evil. Sarah's understanding of her family grows as she does. Her mother is presented initially as unloving and unpleasant, and her father as remote, but as we learn about their motives we grow to sympathize with them. Likewise the family of relatives go from angels of mercy to enemies to - in one case, a martyr and savior of sorts.It's a page turner with a little meat to it, and characters that breathe. What's not to like?
(Side note: one thing I learned while reading the book is that torture is not necessarily an effective way to get at the truth. Imagine that.)
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LibraryThing member TrishNYC
This has to qualify as one of the best books that I have read this year!! The author is brilliant at giving such vivid and beautiful descriptions of life in New England in the late 1600s. The harshness of the landscape and the punishing winters are so well portrayed that the reader almost feels
The heart of this story is 10 year old Sarah Carrier who is brought up in a stern and gloomy household. Her father is reserved and she has a very uneasy relationship with her mother, Martha. Sarah's family moves from Billerica to Andover and shortly after, her brother is stricken with small pox. Sarah and her younger sister Hannah, who is a baby at the time, are sent to live with her aunt, Mary Toothaker, and her family back in Billerica until the epidemic passes. Here she sees a family that is in stark contrast to what she has grown up with. Mary and her husband Roger treat their children very affectionately and for once Sarah feels love expressed openly. Sarah forms a very close relationship with her cousin Margaret and grows to love her aunt and uncle beyond familial obligation. But eventually she must return to her home in Andover, a proposition that she does not relish.
Upon her return, Sarah is once again confronted with her outspoken and brash mother who is not well loved by her neighbors. At first, you look at Martha through the eyes of Sarah and you may also dislike her. But as you read the story you realize that Martha's true crime in the eyes of her neighbors is that she is not a conventional woman, one who is willing to be subservient and pretend to subscribe to showy religious piety. For this many may secretly admire her but all seem to outwardly dislike or hate her. So when an opportunity such as the denouncing of witches unfolds, Martha was a prime candidate to be accused of every sin under the sun.
When these accusations concerning her mother surface, Sarah begins to see her mother and her whole family in a very different light. She begins to see that sometimes one can present a happy and jolly countenance while masking less than honorable intentions. This understanding comes with the knowledge that those who seem glum may actually be the purveyors of virtue. With these realizations in hand, Sarah begins to see her parents in a different light and gains true insight into who her mother really is.
It is shocking to believe that these events transpired in America. I understand that this was in the early days of the nation but it does not make it any less shocking. I believe that aside from just religious frenzy gone mad, there was also economic gain at stake here. The property and assets of people accused was seized by the state and many times people behind accusations would inherit the possessions of the damned. Rabid idleness also allowed people's minds to wonder and come up with ridiculous accusations. All in all, it was a period where the worst human motives were allowed to merge and run wild. This is historical fiction at its best. I would recommend this book even if you are not into this genre of literature cause it will touch your heart.
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like they are present in the scene. The heart of this story is 10 year old Sarah Carrier who is brought up in a stern and gloomy household. Her father is reserved and she has a very uneasy relationship with her mother, Martha. Sarah's family moves from Billerica to Andover and shortly after, her brother is stricken with small pox. Sarah and her younger sister Hannah, who is a baby at the time, are sent to live with her aunt, Mary Toothaker, and her family back in Billerica until the epidemic passes. Here she sees a family that is in stark contrast to what she has grown up with. Mary and her husband Roger treat their children very affectionately and for once Sarah feels love expressed openly. Sarah forms a very close relationship with her cousin Margaret and grows to love her aunt and uncle beyond familial obligation. But eventually she must return to her home in Andover, a proposition that she does not relish.
Upon her return, Sarah is once again confronted with her outspoken and brash mother who is not well loved by her neighbors. At first, you look at Martha through the eyes of Sarah and you may also dislike her. But as you read the story you realize that Martha's true crime in the eyes of her neighbors is that she is not a conventional woman, one who is willing to be subservient and pretend to subscribe to showy religious piety. For this many may secretly admire her but all seem to outwardly dislike or hate her. So when an opportunity such as the denouncing of witches unfolds, Martha was a prime candidate to be accused of every sin under the sun.
When these accusations concerning her mother surface, Sarah begins to see her mother and her whole family in a very different light. She begins to see that sometimes one can present a happy and jolly countenance while masking less than honorable intentions. This understanding comes with the knowledge that those who seem glum may actually be the purveyors of virtue. With these realizations in hand, Sarah begins to see her parents in a different light and gains true insight into who her mother really is.
It is shocking to believe that these events transpired in America. I understand that this was in the early days of the nation but it does not make it any less shocking. I believe that aside from just religious frenzy gone mad, there was also economic gain at stake here. The property and assets of people accused was seized by the state and many times people behind accusations would inherit the possessions of the damned. Rabid idleness also allowed people's minds to wonder and come up with ridiculous accusations. All in all, it was a period where the worst human motives were allowed to merge and run wild. This is historical fiction at its best. I would recommend this book even if you are not into this genre of literature cause it will touch your heart.
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LibraryThing member bbellthom
I highly recommend this book. This book is told from the point of view of Sarah Carrier. Her mother is one of the first women accused, tried and hung during the Salem Witch trials. Before Sarah’s mother is arrested she tells Sarah that they will come for her someday and she must tell them what
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they want to hear and to save herself. All of Sarah’s siblings except one end up testifying against their mother. Much of the story is told while Sarah and her siblings are imprisoned. The Salem Witch trials are a very interesting part of our history and this book did a wonderful job showing how horrific a period this was. An interesting side note is that the author is a descendent of the Carrier family. I can’t wait to read her second novel The Wolves of Andover which is a prequel to The Heretics Daughter. Show Less
LibraryThing member Monkeypats
The story here is a bit of a disappointment. If you have never read or seen the Crucible or any other story about the salem witch trials, then this may be a good first book for you. The story is well-written and researched and the characters are interesting at times. Nonetheless, if you know
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anything about the stories from that era, you will learn nothing new and will probably float through this book with neutral indifference thinking it was a nice read, but forgetting it rather immediately after. Show Less
LibraryThing member jocraddock
The Heretic's Daughter - Advance Reading Copy
By Kathleen Kent
352 pp. Little, Brown $24.99
Kathleen Kent's storytelling shines brightly in her first novel, The Heretic's Daughter.
This is a compelling novel detailing one family's experience of Puritan New England. The first- person telling is vivid;
The details of life of the time, as well as the loss of liberty, are rich. I believe this novel is worthy of being added to high school or college reading lists, as a literary gem, as well as a fascinating study of societal actions and reactions, and colonial American history.
By Kathleen Kent
352 pp. Little, Brown $24.99
Kathleen Kent's storytelling shines brightly in her first novel, The Heretic's Daughter.
This is a compelling novel detailing one family's experience of Puritan New England. The first- person telling is vivid;
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one feels the confusion and frustration, love and loathing of protagonist Sarah Carrier. And, the fear.The details of life of the time, as well as the loss of liberty, are rich. I believe this novel is worthy of being added to high school or college reading lists, as a literary gem, as well as a fascinating study of societal actions and reactions, and colonial American history.
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LibraryThing member busyreadin
Very slow moving book written by a descendant of one of the accused witches of Salem, MA. There was no drama or suspense, just a day to day look into the families life. None of the characters inspired any emotion in me.
LibraryThing member shequiltz
The story of the relationship between a daughter and her mother in the late 1600s in new England. Rumors of witchcraft and strange behavior surround the family and others as hysterical young girls allege they are being tormented. Only when her mother is accused of witchcraft does the daughter begin
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to understand and appreciate her family and her mother's incredible courage and sacrifice. The accounts of prison conditions for the accused and condemned are undoubtedly accurate and horrifying. Show Less
LibraryThing member SmithSJ01
Whilst not a fast-paced novel it is still highly readable and whilst I personally prefer Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’, this is a more in-depth analysis of the witch trials of Salem in the late 1600s. First person narration is by Sarah Carrier, who is the daughter mentioned in the neither
Prior to the actual witch trials there is a long spell of building up to it, which at times seems too detailed and complex and the plot doesn’t really take off until well over half way. I understand that the author is a descendant of Martha Carrier, the narrator’s mother and this perhaps explains why such lengths were undertaken to make the reader fully aware of the circumstances of the family’s life.
The use of descriptive narrative became tedious in places and I tired of the endless use of similes and metaphors, hindering somewhat my enjoyment of the novel. I would recommend it but would suggest ‘The Crucible’ first. A reading group may get more from this than I have personally.
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inspiring nor original title of the novel.Prior to the actual witch trials there is a long spell of building up to it, which at times seems too detailed and complex and the plot doesn’t really take off until well over half way. I understand that the author is a descendant of Martha Carrier, the narrator’s mother and this perhaps explains why such lengths were undertaken to make the reader fully aware of the circumstances of the family’s life.
The use of descriptive narrative became tedious in places and I tired of the endless use of similes and metaphors, hindering somewhat my enjoyment of the novel. I would recommend it but would suggest ‘The Crucible’ first. A reading group may get more from this than I have personally.
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
Author Kathleen Kent has done a marvelous job weaving the story of Martha Carrier, convicted of witchcraft in the 1692 frenzy in that Massachusetts village, into a very readable work of fiction. The story is told from the perspective of her daughter Sarah. The story is moving and appears to be
My 8th great grandaunt Mary Bradbury was mentioned in the book. Her conviction was mentioned along with her being moved to the cell for those convicted with others convicted the same day. I began to get concerned when "Sarah" stated that she would not see them again until the day "they were taken out to be hanged." I knew that Mary had managed to escape her sentence. However, when the others were taken out to be executed a few pages later Mary and one more woman were not among those listed. I breathed a sigh of relief realizing that the author had done her research.
This book presents a very readable account of this sad chapter of America's history. It is highly recommended. It is the best book I have read this year (2009).
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fairly accurate in its depiction of actual event although conversations are certainly mostly fictionalized. My 8th great grandaunt Mary Bradbury was mentioned in the book. Her conviction was mentioned along with her being moved to the cell for those convicted with others convicted the same day. I began to get concerned when "Sarah" stated that she would not see them again until the day "they were taken out to be hanged." I knew that Mary had managed to escape her sentence. However, when the others were taken out to be executed a few pages later Mary and one more woman were not among those listed. I breathed a sigh of relief realizing that the author had done her research.
This book presents a very readable account of this sad chapter of America's history. It is highly recommended. It is the best book I have read this year (2009).
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LibraryThing member wbarker
Perfect for : Personal reading, great book club read, may be good for a history class discussing the Salem Witch Trials
In a nutshell: An intriguing story of a family severely impacted by both the smallpox and the Salem Witch Trials. The author, Kathleen Kent, is a descendant of the original Carrier
Extended Review: The first half of the book introduces the family and the time in history to the reader, setting up relationships within the extended family. We also see how awful smallpox is and how quickly it can spread. The second half of the book focuses on the Salem Witch Trials, where in some cases family, friends and neighbors turned against each other, accusing each other of witchcraft.
The story is told by Sarah, the oldest daughter of the Carrier family. Through her eyes, we watch as the dynamics of her family change: as they move to her grandmother's home in order to be safer from Indian raids, they unknowingly bring the smallpox with them. The two girls are snuck out of the home and taken to a nearby relatives home until it is safe for them to return. Once they return, they watch as people are accused of witchcraft, and they are finally impacted when their own mother is accused and the children are taken to the trials to bear witness against their mother.
As I began the book, I was not particularly fond of Martha Carrier, Sarah's mother. To me, she seemed to be a harsh and unloving parent. By the end of the book, I had completely changed my opinion of her. She remained faithful to her beliefs and did not compromise her values in order to save herself. Instead, she does everything in her power to fight the injustices of the witch trials, believing that her innocence will be proven in the end. While she is in prison, she does everything she can to make sure her children are safe.
Characters: During this time in history, people had to be strong in order to survive. These characters are no exception. Kathleen Kent has woven a powerful story, peeking at Sarah's father's past, her mother's strength-of-character. Each character in the book has a purpose, and each helps to enhance the story being told.
Story-Line: For me, the story was really about the mother-daughter relationship and how it evolved between Sarah and Martha Carrier. While the book relates American history of the late 1600's, shining light on both the smallpox and the Salem Witch Trials, it is really one family's story of where they came from and how they have survived.
Readability: I did not have any problems reading the story, rather I had trouble putting it down.
Overall: This was a very powerful book, made even more amazing by the fact that it is based on actual events that happened within the writer's family in the late 1600's. This book gives the reader a wonderful view of what life was like during that time, and a shocking look into what can happen when people turn against each other out of spite, bitterness and jealousy. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction, early America, and the Salem Witch Trials.
In a nutshell: An intriguing story of a family severely impacted by both the smallpox and the Salem Witch Trials. The author, Kathleen Kent, is a descendant of the original Carrier
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family, which adds more reality to the story, as it has been written around actual events. Knowing that a lot of innocent people were hurt throughout the Salem Witch Trials, I had a hard time picking this book up, but once I started reading it, I had trouble putting it down! The book provides an amazing look into late 1600's America, a time when life was hard, where sickness wiped out entire towns, and people were unjustly persecuted. It also provides the perfect setting to understand why our freedom of religion is so important and why some fought so hard for that right.Extended Review: The first half of the book introduces the family and the time in history to the reader, setting up relationships within the extended family. We also see how awful smallpox is and how quickly it can spread. The second half of the book focuses on the Salem Witch Trials, where in some cases family, friends and neighbors turned against each other, accusing each other of witchcraft.
The story is told by Sarah, the oldest daughter of the Carrier family. Through her eyes, we watch as the dynamics of her family change: as they move to her grandmother's home in order to be safer from Indian raids, they unknowingly bring the smallpox with them. The two girls are snuck out of the home and taken to a nearby relatives home until it is safe for them to return. Once they return, they watch as people are accused of witchcraft, and they are finally impacted when their own mother is accused and the children are taken to the trials to bear witness against their mother.
As I began the book, I was not particularly fond of Martha Carrier, Sarah's mother. To me, she seemed to be a harsh and unloving parent. By the end of the book, I had completely changed my opinion of her. She remained faithful to her beliefs and did not compromise her values in order to save herself. Instead, she does everything in her power to fight the injustices of the witch trials, believing that her innocence will be proven in the end. While she is in prison, she does everything she can to make sure her children are safe.
Characters: During this time in history, people had to be strong in order to survive. These characters are no exception. Kathleen Kent has woven a powerful story, peeking at Sarah's father's past, her mother's strength-of-character. Each character in the book has a purpose, and each helps to enhance the story being told.
Story-Line: For me, the story was really about the mother-daughter relationship and how it evolved between Sarah and Martha Carrier. While the book relates American history of the late 1600's, shining light on both the smallpox and the Salem Witch Trials, it is really one family's story of where they came from and how they have survived.
Readability: I did not have any problems reading the story, rather I had trouble putting it down.
Overall: This was a very powerful book, made even more amazing by the fact that it is based on actual events that happened within the writer's family in the late 1600's. This book gives the reader a wonderful view of what life was like during that time, and a shocking look into what can happen when people turn against each other out of spite, bitterness and jealousy. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction, early America, and the Salem Witch Trials.
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LibraryThing member Bellettres
Martha Carrier and her family lived in Andover, MA at the time of the Salem witch trials. Although fictionalized, all the characters actually existed, and Martha was hanged for witchcraft. More than anything else, this novel demonstrates the horrible effects of fanaticism--particularly when it
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comes to religion. Beautifully written. Show Less
LibraryThing member ojos11
I picked this up by chance and I couldn't be more happy with it. It was so good I read it in three sittings. As you might get from other reviews this is about the Salem witch trials from the point of view of a young girl name Sarah, but for me that isn't the real story here. The meat of the book is
This book had me smiling at the early discoveries of Martha Carrier's personality. I truly fell in love with her character. I'm not ashamed to say I cried through most of the last half of the book.
I wholeheartedly recommend it.
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the relationship between Sarah and her mother. Sarah discovers in the worst possible was, the trials, that her mother is not the hard woman she thinks but is in fact loving and caring while those that she thinks good early on are not really so.This book had me smiling at the early discoveries of Martha Carrier's personality. I truly fell in love with her character. I'm not ashamed to say I cried through most of the last half of the book.
I wholeheartedly recommend it.
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LibraryThing member kalky
"The Heretic's Daughter" passed one of my tests for historical fiction -- it led me to want to learn more about the time the book covers. Kathleen Kent has done a wonderful job of turning exhaustive research into an engrossing and heart-wrenching story. It's so well done that it's difficult to
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believe this is the first book by the author. For me, the only two negatives were the overuse of foreshadowing in the first part of the book and the anticlimactic final pages. Neither was a huge distraction because of the fascinating characters and compelling storyline. I hate to use a cliche, but I honestly couldn't put this book down for the last third of it. Martha and Sarah Carrier are two characters who will stay with me for a long time, and they're all the more haunting for me because they were real. I look forward to reading anything else that Kathleen Kent writes. Show Less
LibraryThing member seldombites
Most of us know about the 'Burning Times', the witchcraft trials that swept the world in the seventeenth century. We also know that the horror, the terror and the injustice that made up these trials was worst in the area of Salem, Massachusetts. However, as we look back on these acts from the
Despite it's sometimes dry and impersonal language, this book brings the era to life. We feel with and for the characters and we are transformed by their experiences. I was especially chilled by the formal, emotionless language of the court transcripts, recording the sham trials of the accused. This book is definitely not to be missed.
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safety of several generations removal, we cannot quite grasp the fear, the uncertainty and the general state of mistrust that must have pervaded peoples minds at this time.Despite it's sometimes dry and impersonal language, this book brings the era to life. We feel with and for the characters and we are transformed by their experiences. I was especially chilled by the formal, emotionless language of the court transcripts, recording the sham trials of the accused. This book is definitely not to be missed.
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Awards
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Recommended — 2012)
Massachusetts Book Award (Must-Read (Longlist) — Fiction — 2009)
David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction (Winner — 2008)