Genre: Historical literary fiction

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese gives us a fascinating idea of how Nathaniel Hawthorne may have been inspired to write The Scarlet letter. As an English teacher, I always enjoyed teaching Hawthorne’s work. His themes and his view of the world also fascinated my students. And while they struggled with his style and vocabulary, we almost always ended up in very thoughtful discussions. In Hester, Albanese explores the life of Isobel who has come to Salem from Boston because her husband’s opium addiction had consigned them to the poor house in Scotland. She is a woman of many secrets and a family history of witchcraft accusations who lands in Salem of all places. She hears and sees colors that others cannot. When her husband is away at sea, she is forced to rely on her ability to embroider to survive. When she believes that her husband has been lost at sea, she also becomes involved with Nathaniel Hawthorne himself. Narrator Saskia Maarleveld expertly brings the audiobook to life.

I found myself lost a bit in the history at first, but ultimately as the threads started to merge (Do you see what I did there?).I truly appreciated this novel. This book simultaneously celebrates women while illustrating the difficulties faced by them in the early and late 18th century. Isobel’s grandmother is accused of witchcraft in Scotland and escapes execution long enough to deliver her daughter. The chapters that are set in her time are a bit magical themselves - lyrical and lovely in spite of what is often difficult content. Isobel, in spite of all that is against her, is a woman of great strength. Again and again, she must start with nothing to create a life and support herself. To do so in the difficult society that comprises Salem is especially impressive. Many of the women here have a secret strength working within the strictures as best they can. They fight abuse, loneliness, misogyny, and even slavery by working together. Isobel uses her talent with the needle to survive. In spite of the many who try and stop her, her strength and talent prevail. But also, the women who surround her are essential to her success. Nathaniel Hawthorne proves to be quite selfish and cowardly in the end in spite of how much I wanted him to be a romantic hero. (I mean I knew, but man do I hold out hope). No spoilers, but I guess he chides himself a little through his writing in the end IYKYK.

In the end - much like The Scarlet Letter - Hester is the story of the strength of women. Laurie Lico Albanese relies on expert research to expand our knowledge of Salem beyond the witchcraft trials. She illustrates the prejudice that exists both ethnic and racial. We see the underground railroad at work and also that all northerners were not supportive of the freedom of slaves. Like in my recent read All You Have To Do Is Call, we see women working with women, protecting them, helping them in the face of misogyny. In this way the 1070s are not that different from the 1600s. What is unnerving is that we may well be comparing the 2020s as well. What I started because of my teaching of The Scarlet Letter and a desire to explore Albanese’s parallels, has taught and reminded me of so much more. I need to pay attention and figure out what I should be doing to raise up and support women - right now.