Susannah Morrow
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3.6 • 11 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
An irresistible blend of history, suspense, and romance, SUSANNAH MORROW captures the extraordinary drama of the Salem witch trials.
The hysteria and deceit that gripped Salem, Massachusetts, and ended the lives of 24 men and women in 1692 has been the basis of many works of fiction. Now, Megan Chance combines high drama, sweeping romance, and historical accuracy to offer a fresh perspective on the Salem witch trials. At the heart of SUSANNAH MORROW are the accused, the accuser, and the man who loves them both, and each becomes a tragic victim of the time. At 15, Charity Fowler has lost too much: her mother in childbirth and her illusions about romance to a young man who broke her heart. Her father, a devout Christian, has withdrawn from the family, and her aunt, Susannah, who has moved to Salem from London, is struggling to find her place in a family, and a community, that are threatened by her obvious sensuality. It quickly becomes clear that Susannah has chosen the wrong time to enter this society, as religious fervor, repressed emotions, and sexual guilt are about to explode into a form of hysteria that will condemn her as a victim in one of the most gruesome chapters of American history.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The infamous Salem witch trials are staged once again in this historically accurate yet oddly flat novel. Three characters narrate the tale: 15-year-old Charity Fowler; her father, Lucas; and her maternal aunt, Susannah Morrow. The novel opens in 1691 as Charity, devastated and increasingly uncertain, struggles to cope with both the loss of her mother in childbirth and the abrupt departure of her first love. The easily led teenager seeks solace in a group of manipulative girls, who insinuate that evil is lurking in their insular, superstitious little town. As Charity loses her grasp on reason, Lucas, a God-fearing man who has tended his family the best he can but is hobbled by his piety, takes the reins of the narrative. Tormented by his sexual longings and uneasy about his stern treatment of his daughters, he commits grievous errors in judgment. The hysteria over the alleged presence of witches in the village as documented by the crazed "fits" of young girls has paralyzed the community when Susannah's voice takes over. Her London background and her strength, sensuality and courage inevitably make her a victim of the madness, but her lucid narration carries the reader through the horror of escalating accusations and unmerited punishment. Chance's clear-eyed narrative doesn't slide into sensationalism, but with the exception of the intriguing and well-drawn title character, it adds little to the well-known story.
