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Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
Historical fiction

Hester

by Laurie Lico Albanese

Quick take

You'll never look at the Scarlet A the same after reading this quintessential New England tale of power and desire.

Good to know

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_Feminist

    Feminist

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_Literary

    Literary

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_BasedOnAClassic

    Based on a classic

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_Infidelity

    Infidelity

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 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, 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.

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Free sample

Get an early look from the first pages of Hester.

Why I love it

Are we prisoners of the past, doomed to pay for our ancestors’ sins? Or are we agents of change, blazing a new path forward?

In Hester, Laurie Lico Albanese’s provocative historical novel, societal judgment weighs heavily on independent young women. Lush, sensuous, and wholly original, Hester breathes new life into Hester Prynne, the tragic heroine of The Scarlet Letter, and offers a powerful reimagining of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic story while celebrating the irrepressible female spirit.

In mid-1660s Scotland, Isobel Gowdie, a red-haired woman with sensory gifts, stands accused of dark magic. Two centuries later, her red-haired granddaughter Isobel Gamble, a gifted seamstress, moves to New England, where memories of the witchcraft trials cast a long shadow. Lonely, penniless, and haunted by her ancestry, Isobel must rely on her unique talents to survive while her husband is at sea. Soon, she meets Nat Hathorne, a sensitive writer grappling with his own troubled legacy. Art and ideas draw them together and, over time, they grow closer. But will their mutual desire bring salvation or ruin?

Meticulously researched yet eminently readable, Hester offers a fresh take on the traditional immigrant tale. The lessons Albanese imparts are as timely as they are timeless and provide a fresh feminist lens through which future generations can reconsider the past.

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Member ratings (14,036)

  • Nikki R.

    New York, NY

    “Hester” was extremely well-written and riveting. Isobel’s inspired-by story was, to me, much more intriguing than “The Scarlet Letter.” Her strength and hope was palpable, and I savored every word.

  • Terrie J.

    Smithville, MO

    If you read the Scarlet Letter than you will want to read this. Unique in its telling but beautifully written. I am a classic literature major. I was taught how to appreciate good writing. ❤️❣️❣️

  • Maggie E.

    Mount Pleasant, SC

    LOVED retelling of “The Scarlet Letter!” From Hester’s perspective we get a much richer story; womens’ friendships & matriarchal history; visual of Salem in 1840s; gorgeous writing! READ THIS BOOK!!

  • Mary D.

    Hamburg, NY

    An enchanting tale of the mysteries, challenges, strength, power, and joys of women. This book looks at mans’ preoccupation with the past and woman’s’ work in the present, for the hope of the future.

  • Kate B.

    Wilmington, NC

    I love love The Scarlet Letter, so I couldn’t NOT pick this one—but I confess I didnt expect much from it. I LOVED THIS. It was as gorgeous as I imagine Isobel’s colors and stitches to be. Impressed!