The Heretic's Daughter

A Novel

By: Kathleen Kent

Narrated by: Mare Winningham

Salem, 1752. Sarah Carrier Chapman, weak with infirmity, writes a letter to her granddaughter that reveals the secret she has closely guarded for six decades: how she survived the Salem Witch Trials when her mother did not.

Sarah's story begins more than a year before the trials, when she and her family arrive in a New England community already gripped by superstition and fear. As they witness neighbor pitted against neighbor, friend against friend, the hysteria escalates -- until more than two hundred men, women, and children have been swept into prison. Among them is Sarah's mother, Martha Carrier. In an attempt to protect her children, Martha asks Sarah to commit an act of heresy -- a lie that will most surely condemn Martha even as it will save her daughter.

This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.

Critic reviews

"The panic and horror of the Salem witch trials in Kent's novel is conveyed with dead-eyed calm and an occasional tremor of emotion by Mare Winningham.... Her melodiousness is pleasing to the ear.... At times, the melody overwhelms the meaning, but Winningham is more than capable as a reader, and her reading of Kent's sad tale f women accused and accusing emits a hit of deeply buried, untouchable tragedy."—Publishers Weekly

"Powerful descriptions of 9-year-old Sarah's time in prison are depicted well by the fear, anger, and repulsion Winningham projects into her reading. Author Kent, a tenth-generation descendent of Martha Carrier, who was hanged as a witch in 1692, has an accurate vision for time and place, equaled by Winningham's narration."—AudioFile

The Heretic's Daughter

From the minuet I turned on my Zen to listen to; The Heretic's Daughter; I was captured. I enjoy reading Historical Fiction and this is to be one of the best. I went on the internet to find other book by Kathleen Kent only to find that this is her first book. I sure hope that she continues to write. I am looking forward to reading her next book. Mare Winningham was an excellent narrator and brought the story to life. I would highly recommend it to everyone.

slow story

story is a little all over the place. music makes parts hard to hear parts

Tragic History

Bigotry, greed, envy, arrogance sew the seeds of dark shameful deeds done in the name of righteousness. Won't we ever learn. A tale for today.

The savagery of man

We forget the atrocities that men can bring on to fellow man/women/children through their ignorance and hatred. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was well read and a good reminder of our past.

Engaging Portrait of Old Salem

I really enjoyed this novel--highly recommend it. The narrator, 11-year old Sarah Carrier, lives in Andover, MA at the time of the witch hunts in nearby Salem. The novel is based on a true story: Sarah's mother Martha was hanged for witchcraft, and she and her three brothers were also charged. The novel not only presents the facts and a wonderful portrait of the struggles of everyday life at the time but also creates a moving portrait of a daughter coming to understand her parents and the true nature of their love for their children. I listened to the book on audio, read by Mare Winningham; very nicely done indeed.