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Hester
Named a Most Anticipated Book for Fall 2022 by Goodreads - Washington Post - New York Post - BuzzFeed - PopSugar - Business Insider - An October 2022 Indie Next List Pick - An October 2022 LibraryReads Pick
"A hauntingly beautiful--and imagined--orign story to The Scarlet Letter." --People WHO IS THE REAL HESTER PRYNNE? 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 Edinburgh 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 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? In this sensuous and hypnotizing tale, a young immigrant woman grapples with our country's complicated past, and learns that America's ideas of freedom and liberty often fall short of their promise. Interwoven with Isobel and Nathaniel's story is a vivid interrogation of who gets to be a "real" American in the first half of the 19th century, a depiction of the early days of the Underground Railroad in New England, and atmospheric interstitials that capture the long history of "unusual" women being accused of witchcraft. Meticulously researched yet evocatively imagined, Laurie Lico Albanese's Hester is a timeless tale of art, ambition, and desire that examines the roots of female creative power and the men who try to shut it down.BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
I really enjoyed this book. It shows the power that women didn't realize that they had when they needed it.
It was a little slow at the beginning, but it really picked up speed and I finished it quickly.
I would recommend this book.
It was a little slow at the beginning, but it really picked up speed and I finished it quickly.
I would recommend this book.
I listened to this on audiobook and was amazed at the range of accents and dialects of the narrator for both male and female characters. Honestly, it has been 55 years since I read The Scarlet Letter, and suffice it to say, a few plot points from that original may have been forgotten. But I remember enough to recognize the the parallels drawn between these stories. The young heroine, Isobel, being severely disadvantaged as a young girl. In this story, she marries the kindly older doc - but the doc gets hooked on heroin and steals or spends all their money to put them in the poor house. For the love of God, no wonder she tries to escape this relationship by gladly encouraging hubby to ship out to Bermuda to sell his magic elixir and leave her in peace. Ah, but temptation rears its head in the form of one Nat Hawthorne, of Salem - the eventual future author of The Scarlet Letter - with whom she feels an intense connection. So, he’s the Reverend Dimsdale in the story. Oh, the irony. And once again, poor Isobel, the Hester Prynne of the story, is wronged. You knew it was going to happen. I don’t remember how Hester fared in the original. I may need to revisit it. But Isobel may have gotten a much better ending. I loved the captain character, who loved her, and the black freed woman, Mercy, who became her friend. Good old Nat, though. He was the bad guy in the end. And cosmic justice / kudos go to his wife tossing his journals out on the fire when she suspects his story, the Scarlet Letter, and its heroine, was not a story, after all.
A beautifully woven novel that reimagines the life of Hester Prynne, the iconic character from Nathaniel Hawthorne's *The Scarlet Letter.* Set in 1856, the story follows Hester, a talented seamstress grappling with her past and the stigma of her scarlet letter. As she navigates the constraints of Puritan society, Hester embarks on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, ultimately finding her voice and purpose.
Laurie Lico Albanese crafts a rich and immersive narrative that captures the essence of Hester's struggles and triumphs. The lush descriptions and historical detail brought the setting to life, while the exploration of themes such as resilience and identity resonated deeply. Albanese's portrayal of Hester as a complex, multifaceted character added depth to the story, making it not just a retelling, but a fresh and compelling perspective. A captivating read for both fans of classic literature and those seeking a story of strength and redemption.
Laurie Lico Albanese crafts a rich and immersive narrative that captures the essence of Hester's struggles and triumphs. The lush descriptions and historical detail brought the setting to life, while the exploration of themes such as resilience and identity resonated deeply. Albanese's portrayal of Hester as a complex, multifaceted character added depth to the story, making it not just a retelling, but a fresh and compelling perspective. A captivating read for both fans of classic literature and those seeking a story of strength and redemption.
“…she understood that every woman will face peril and hardship—and that it’s best if we keep our strengths and skills close and strong. That way, when we need them, they are powerful enough to carry us to a new beginning”
Such a beautiful book!
Such a beautiful book!
Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.
This is a well written story that explores mostly the struggles of women and immigrants in the 1600s and 1800s. It also touches on how mental health was often misunderstood and demonized in those times. While those themes are being explored in lovely prose, I know the story of the Scarlet Letter and I was dreading that part of the story unfolding and watching the main character suffer. She's trying her best to make friends and support herself, it's been a struggle from the start and I didn't want to see it all crashing down. I would like to pretend she catches a break instead and things work out better. I may revisit this. I do recommend if you aren't as much of a softy as me.
This is a well written story that explores mostly the struggles of women and immigrants in the 1600s and 1800s. It also touches on how mental health was often misunderstood and demonized in those times. While those themes are being explored in lovely prose, I know the story of the Scarlet Letter and I was dreading that part of the story unfolding and watching the main character suffer. She's trying her best to make friends and support herself, it's been a struggle from the start and I didn't want to see it all crashing down. I would like to pretend she catches a break instead and things work out better. I may revisit this. I do recommend if you aren't as much of a softy as me.
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