The Folklorist
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4.0 • 1 Rating
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
1830s Birch Falls, Vermont
One by one Jerusha Kendall's siblings fall victim to consumption, the scourge of the 19th century. Devastated by the loss of her children, Jerusha's mother Mary is horrified over the outlandish folk remedy proposed by her dearest friend, Lavinia. Unable to divert the people of Birch Falls from carrying out Lavinia's ghastly plan, Mary succeeds only in convincing them never to let Jerusha find out what they've done. But Jerusha knows a secret is being kept from her, and she is determined to uncover it.
1973 Middlebury, Vermont
Newly-minted folklorist Charlotte Lajoie accepts the position of Assistant Director at the New England Folklife Museum, the perfect first step in her career. But her sexist boss uses her to hide his incompetence and steal her ideas. Charlotte's misery at work is assuaged only by a gift from her grandmother – the diary of their ancestor, Jerusha Kendall. Fascinated, Charlotte suspects that her family may have been involved in the 19th century's New England Vampire Panic. Her discoveries could prove to be a goldmine for her career but only if she can outwit her jealous boss and pacify a vengeful ghost.
Customer Reviews
Inspiring story
When I started reading this, I was in the mood for a light, quick read. This book does not fit that description at all. It took me a bit to get invested in this one. Despite that, I really enjoyed the story. Especially Jerusha’s story. I recently visited the grave of Mercy Brown in Connecticut, whose grave was desecrated by the town, fearing that she was feeding on her living family members. Reading about the sadness and trouble this caused in the lives of those who were living in fear of consumption gave me a whole new perspective on this. And the love and forgiveness that restores lives give me hope for all of us now. Great story!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.