The Heretic's Daughter

A Novel

By: Kathleen Kent

Narrated by: Mare Winningham

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried, and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft. This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.

Kathleen Kent is a 10th generation descendent of Martha Carrier. She is also a natural-born storyteller, and in her first novel, she paints a haunting portrait, not just of Puritan New England, but also of one family's deep and abiding love in the face of fear and persecution

©2008 Kathleen Kent (P)2008 Hachette Audio

Glimpse of History

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Salem Witch trials. Well read and the story was engaging. I have recommended this to friends and bought a copy to put in our local high school. The Wolves of Andover is a prequel to this book written by the same author. I plan to read it.

Great story, excellent reader!

Kathleen Kent writes a great and compelling story about an incredible time. Although the Salem witch trials of been covered copiously, Kathleen Kent brings it into sharp, personal focus in a way that so compelling it's hard to put the book down. Marr Winningham brings the story so poignantly and personally to life you feel as though Sarah is there with you and you are hearing the story directly from her. It is such a privilege to listen to this great actress read aanything! Bravo!

Great story !!!

I enjoyed listening to this . It pulls you in from the beginning and the narrator is one of the best I have heard. Excellent read.

Second Time Listening To This Book

I really enjoyed this book both times I have read it. Historically accurate information worked into a fictional story that is wonderfully performed.

Wicked lies

Wow, amazing how one's life and family can be utterly destroyed by malicious lies, jealousy and ignorance.

Good story

This is a great view of the happenings during the sale witch trials...my only negative comment would be still not knowing the importance of the red book and the history of the father...still a good story...

My 9th Grandmother

Great story
As accurate as things I've been told
Martha went through so much.. very sad
I'm related to many 'accused' witches and many who were hung

Should be required reading

Based so strongly on research from the court documents and writings of the time, this novel really brings the horror of the time and place to life. I found it far more compelling than The Crucible in the illustration of fear, ignorance and hate. Narrated from the point of view of a young girl, this portrait is likely to resonate more with women but in a day when peer pressure among teens runs amok, it should be required reading.

Sad Story

Really enjoyed this book, even though parts of it were heartbreaking.
What a terrible episode the Salem Witch Trials and aftermath was in the history of America.
Mare Winningham narration = Excellent.

A scary cautionary tale...

I have to admit that once I started this audiobook I felt a bit disappointed, as it seemed slow, boring even.
But as the book progresses in it’s representation of the events surrounding the Salem Witch Trials I felt completely hooked. Until reading this book I did not fully understand how these atrocities could occur at the hysterical rantings of a few teenage girls…
The first half of the book was a day-to-day in the life a 9 year old girl, Sarah Carrier of Andover, and it gives you the feel for life in 17th Century New England. Once the book gets to the accusations, the fear is palpable. As events spiral out of control, the novel sheds a light in the darkness that radiates outward from the trials. Thank God the novel is not all doom and gloom as we are able to see the Carrier family bond and develop strength of character to counter their awful fate.
This is a very scary cautionary tale about the abuse of power, the potential effect of a mob mentality and the dangers of a theocracy.