Hester

Author: Laurie Lico Albanese
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group, 2022
Pages: 336
Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis: Isobel Gamble is a young seamstress carrying generations of secrets when she sets sail from Scotland in the early 1800s with her husband, Edward. An apothecary who has fallen under the spell of opium, his pile of debts have forced them to flee Glasgow for a fresh start in the New World. But only days after they've arrived in Salem, Edward abruptly joins a departing ship as a medic - leaving Isobel penniless and alone in a strange country, forced to make her own way by any means possible.

When she meets a young Nathaniel Hawthorne, the two are instantly drawn to each other: he is a man haunted by his ancestors who sent innocent women to the gallows - while she is an unusually gifted needleworker, troubled by her own strange talents. As the weeks pass and Edward's safe return grows increasingly unlikely, Nathaniel and Isobel grow closer and closer. Together, they are a muse and a dark storyteller; the enchanter and the enchanted. But which is which.

Review: I remember The Scarlet Letter being one of my favorite required reading books in high school, and this imagined back story was not only fun, but also not implausible.

First, let's talk about the cover. The cover artwork is stunning. The colors and detail are eyecatching, and illustrate the heart (core) of the novel beautifully.

Normally I am not a fan of including sex scenes in books set during this time period. It was a hidden side of the times, and including sex seems like a money grab, ie sex sells. However, how would one write a book about Hawthorne's inspiration for The Scarlet Letter, and his possible relationship to (with) her without sex? That is the entire basis for The Scarlet Letter. 

Underlying themes/events also drew me in - readers get a real sense of what New England was like when every aspect of daily lives and livelihoods revolved around ships and shipping industry. The atrocities of slavery and the early days of the Underground Railroad are also mentioned. 

This is a complex and encompassing novel. The author certainly packs a punch in 336 pages.