Book Review: Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
Laurie Lico Albanese’s novel Hester isn't just a companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter . It’s a rewrite that corrects the original story. The book gives a voice back to the woman who was silenced and turned into a symbol.
Hester asks what if the character Hester Prynne was a real person. Her story wasn't about sin. It was about survival, art, and having her story stolen by a man.
This book gets a 4 out of 5-star rating. The story is well-written and exciting, and it has a strong message about women's empowerment. It loses one star because some parts feel slow, and the male characters can seem a little flat.
What's the Book "Hester" About?
A Quick Summary (No Spoilers)
The book introduces us to Isobel Gamble, a seamstress from Scotland in the 1820s. She has a condition called synesthesia. This means she experiences letters, sounds, and feelings as different colors.
Isobel marries an older man named Edward Gamble. He is addicted to opium, and they have to flee to America to escape his debts. They end up in Salem, Massachusetts, a town with a dark history of witch trials.
Soon after they arrive, Edward abandons Isobel on a ship, leaving her alone with no money. To survive, she has to use her amazing sewing skills. Her synesthesia helps her create beautiful embroidery that gets a lot of attention.
But in a town like Salem, being different is dangerous. Isobel’s talent makes people suspicious of her.
Then, Isobel meets a young, handsome writer named Nat Hathorne. They begin a passionate and secret relationship. Both of them have family histories tied to the witch trials that haunt them.
The book imagines that Isobel's life and her art become the real story behind The Scarlet Letter . Nat uses her personal story of survival to write his famous novel.
Key Facts & Genre
- Author: Laurie Lico Albanese
- Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Feminist Retelling
- Publication Year: 2022 (First published October 4, 2022)
Don't mix this book up with an older novel from 1883 that has a similar title. The best way to describe Hester is as a "feminist retelling." It's part of a trend of modern books that retell classic stories from a woman's point of view, like Circe and Hamnet .
"Hester" vs. "The Scarlet Letter"
Is "Hester" a True Story?
The novel is a mix of real history and creative fiction.
Here are the true parts. The character of Nat Hathorne is based on the real author, Nathaniel Hawthorne. He really was haunted by his ancestor, a judge in the Salem Witch Trials, and he added a "w" to his name to distance himself from that past.
The book also mentions a real woman named Isobel Gowdie. She was a Scottish woman accused of witchcraft in 1662. Her confessions were some of the most detailed in history.
Here's what's made up. The main character, Isobel Gamble, is completely fictional. The author cleverly made her a descendant of the real Isobel Gowdie. The entire relationship between Isobel and Nat is the fictional heart of the story.
The book brings these two real histories together. Isobel’s family were the accused witches, while Nat’s family were the accusers. Their story becomes a meeting point for these two legacies of violence against women.
The book also includes short sections about these ancestors. Some readers found them distracting. But their purpose is to show that the history of punishing "unusual" women is a long one that gets passed down.
Giving Hester Her Own Voice
In Hawthorne's classic novel, Hester Prynne is a powerful symbol. But she is still used by a male author to explore themes like sin and guilt. Even with her strength, she is a character in a man's story.
Albanese's Hester gives the power and voice back to the woman. The focus of the story is completely different.
- From Sin to Survival: The main problem isn't a moral mistake. It's about a woman trying to survive after being abandoned with no money.
- From Shame to Art: The scarlet "A" is not a mark of Adultery forced on her. It's re-imagined as Isobel's personal experience of seeing the letter 'A' as the color red because of her synesthesia.
- From Symbol to Artist: Isobel's sewing is her main creative outlet. It is a powerful act of storytelling and how she expresses herself.
Reading Hester makes you see The Scarlet Letter in a new light. It suggests that Hawthorne may have taken a real woman's story of survival and creativity. He then repackaged it as a story about sin, silencing her in the process.
| Feature | The Scarlet Letter (Hawthorne, 1850) | Hester (Albanese, 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Protagonist's "Crime" | Adultery (Sin). | Independence; "strange talents" (Synesthesia); self-defense. |
| Source of Conflict | Puritanical legalism; public shame. | Patriarchal abandonment; economic destitution. |
| Core Themes | Sin, Guilt, Redemption, Legalism. | Female creativity, Agency, Artistic Erasure, Survival. |
| Role of Needlework | A skill for survival; a means to reclaim the 'A'. | A subversive "feminist act"; a primary form of storytelling ; a magical, synesthetic voice. |
| Portrayal of Men | The cruel, obsessive husband (Chillingworth); the weak, guilty lover (Dimmesdale). | The addicted, violent husband (Edward); the "cowardly," "selfish" lover (Nat). |
| Narrative Frame | A man (the narrator) finds a-historic papers and tells the story of a woman. | A woman (Isobel) lives her story, which is co-opted by a man, and she reclaims it by telling it to her daughter. |
| Resolution | Heroine remains in the community, a "living symbol" of penance. | Heroine escapes the community, finds economic independence, and builds a new life. |
Character and Themes
Who Is Isobel?
The main character is Isobel Gamble, named after her real ancestor who was accused of witchcraft. She is a strong, resilient, and captivating person.
Isobel's most important trait is her synesthesia. This is the "secret" that drives the story. For example, her mother's voice was a mix of blue and green to her.
Her own mother was afraid of this "difference." She worried people would accuse Isobel of witchcraft, so she forced her to hide it. But this secret becomes the engine of her art, guiding her needle to create beautiful work.
A big difference from The Scarlet Letter is the nature of the "crime." Hester Prynne's sin was adultery. Isobel's crimes, in the eyes of Salem, are just being different: she's an immigrant, she's an abandoned woman, and she has unusual talents.
She does have an affair with Nat, which results in a child. But the book frames this as a real connection, not a sin. Her biggest "crime" is actually an act of self-defense when she stabs her abusive husband to protect herself.
In the end, Isobel's story is about a mother's strength. Everything she does is to protect her daughter, Margaret. Her choice to escape Salem is to give her daughter a better life.
Isobel and her sewing come to symbolize female creative power. Needlework, a traditionally quiet craft, becomes her voice, her power, and her weapon for survival.
The Big Ideas in the Book
The main theme is feminism and creativity. In the 19th century, women channeled their intelligence into the few outlets they had, like sewing. This book elevates that craft into a powerful act.
The novel makes a direct comparison: Isobel's needle is a tool for storytelling, just like Nat's pen. The tragedy is that the man with the pen gets to write history. He erases the woman with the needle who gave him the story.
The Salem in this book is a town built on secrets and judgment. Anyone who is different is treated as an "outsider." This connects Isobel to other characters, like her neighbor Mercy, a free Black woman, and Nell, an Irish servant.
The story tries to connect these different struggles. But it stumbles in one key scene. A conversation where Mercy tells Isobel that they are treated the same feels clumsy and creates a false comparison between their experiences.
The book also explores love and betrayal. The relationship between Isobel and Nat might seem romantic, but it's revealed to be toxic. He is selfish, cowardly, and sees her as an inspiration, not a person.
Nat betrays her twice. He abandons her when she gets pregnant. He also steals her life story for his novel. Isobel's journey is about realizing she must escape both him and her abusive husband to be truly free.
So, Should You Read "Hester"?
My Take on the Book
Hester is an ambitious and often beautiful novel, but it does have some flaws. The writing is vivid and pulls you into 1820s Salem. However, the story can be a slow burn, and some parts drag on.
Here's what worked well:
- The Idea: The concept of telling the "origin story" behind a classic is unique and clever.
- The Main Character: Isobel is a strong and captivating person, and it's easy to root for her.
- Synesthesia: Using this condition as a way to explain her art is a fascinating touch.
- The Message: The book's focus on women's empowerment makes it a powerful and inspiring read.
Here's what didn't work as well:
- Too Much Going On: The book tries to tackle many big topics, which can make the story feel disjointed.
- Distracting Flashbacks: The sections about Isobel's ancestor from the 1600s often felt confusing or like filler.
- Flat Villains: The male characters, especially Nat Hawthorne, can feel one-dimensional.
- Handling of Race: As mentioned before, the book's attempt to compare racial and immigrant struggles feels awkward.
Who Would Like This Book?
This novel is a great fit for a few kinds of readers.
- Fans of Feminist Retellings: If you liked books like Circe or Hamnet , you will probably love Hester .
- Fans of Historical Fiction: Anyone who enjoys stories set in early America will find this book atmospheric and engaging.
- Fans of Literary Origin Stories: If you like learning the "story behind the story" of classic books, this is for you.
Do you need to have read The Scarlet Letter first?
The short answer is no. The book stands on its own as a compelling historical novel. You can enjoy it without knowing anything about Hawthorne's classic.
But if you are familiar with The Scarlet Letter , the experience will be much richer. You will understand how Albanese is challenging the original story. You'll also see why the changes she makes are so important.
Common Questions About "Hester"
What is the plot of the book "Hester"?
Isobel Gamble, a seamstress who sees colors in sounds, moves to Salem with her husband, Edward. He is addicted to opium. Soon after they arrive, he abandons her and leaves her with no money.
Isobel uses her unique sewing talent to support herself. She befriends her neighbor, Mercy, a free Black woman involved in the Underground Railroad. Isobel then starts a secret affair with an aspiring writer, Nat Hathorne, and becomes pregnant.
The story's climax happens when her husband Edward returns, now a violent slave catcher. He tries to force Isobel to help him trap Mercy and her family.
Isobel secretly warns Mercy by stitching a message into a piece of cloth. When Edward realizes he's been betrayed, he attacks Isobel. In self-defense, she stabs him in the eye with her sewing needle.
With Edward blinded, Isobel must flee Salem. As she boards a ship to Canada, she sees Nat on the docks and shows him their baby. He does nothing, proving his cowardice once and for all.
How does the novel "Hester" end?
The ending of Hester is a hopeful and powerful reversal of The Scarlet Letter . Isobel doesn't stay in Salem to be a symbol of sin. She escapes to Canada to start a new life.
There, she raises her daughter, Margaret, on her own. She opens a successful dressmaking shop and becomes an independent businesswoman.
She remains friends with the kind sea captain, William Darling, for many years. Only after her daughter is grown do they become a couple. Their relationship is one between equals.
The most powerful part of the ending is about the story itself. Years later, a copy of The Scarlet Letter finds its way to Isobel. She sits down with her adult daughter and tells her the true story of her life.
Does "Hester" have a happy ending?
Yes, the ending is definitely happy and empowering. Isobel survives abuse, escapes a selfish lover, and finds financial independence. Most importantly, she reclaims her own story from the man who stole it.
"Hester" Book Club Questions
- Isobel's synesthesia is both a gift and a curse. How does this condition shape her identity, her art, and how she sees the people around her?
- Let's talk about Nat Hawthorne. Do you think he is a cruel man or just a weak one? Did this fictional version of him change how you feel about the real author?
- This novel is about who gets to tell a story. Do you think Nat's book was an act of inspiration, or was it an act of theft?
- Isobel's sewing is called a "feminist act." How does she use this traditional craft to tell her story, gain independence, and defend herself?
- What does the color scarlet mean in this book? Think about how it connects to the letter 'A', her red hair, and Hawthorne's novel. How does this book reclaim the color from its link to sin?
- The story draws parallels between different "outsider" characters like Isobel, Mercy, and Nell. Do you think the book did a good job showing their different struggles?
- The book includes short sections about Isobel's and Nat's ancestors from the 1600s. Did you find these parts effective, or were they distracting?
- Compare the three main men in Isobel's life: Edward, Nat, and Captain Darling. What do you think the novel is trying to say about what makes a good man?
- Think about the scene where Isobel blinds Edward with her sewing needle. How did you react to this moment? How is it a symbol of the book's larger themes?
- Did Isobel get a happy ending? Why is the final scene, where she tells her own story to her daughter, so important?