Two new books on the Salem Witch Trials recently hit the shelves. The first is a historical fiction novel, titled Abigail Accused: A Story of the Salem Witch Hunt, based on accused Andover witch Abigail Dane Faulkner.
The second is a non-fiction book, titled Six Women of Salem: The Untold Story of the Accused and Their Accusers in the Salem Witch Trials, which examines the lives of six women involved in the Salem Witch Trials.
Published in May of 2013, Abigail Accused was written by Juliet Moffard, the former director of education and research at the Andover Historical Society.
In a recent interview with the Andover Townsmen newspaper, Moffard explained that although the book is fiction, it is based on the actual events of the witch hunt: “What makes my book unique … is this historical novel explains what became of those who survived the witch trials and their treatment when they were finally released and returned home,” Moffard said.
Moffard, who has been working on the book since 1995, has also published other texts about the witch hunt, including a young adult novel titled Cry Witch, as well as a nonfiction book titled The Devil Made Me Do It: Crime and Punishment in Early New England and is the author of 12 books in total, two of which have received awards from the American Association For State and Local History.
Published in September of 2013, Six Women of Salem was also written by an accomplished author.
Marilynne K. Roach is already well-known for her book The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege and numerous other books about the trials.
In her new book, Roach chronicles the lives of six women involved in the Salem Witch Trials in an attempt to examine the trials through the eyes of the people who lived through it.
The book shines a spotlight on accused witches Rebecca Nurse, Bridget Bishop, Mary English and Tituba as well as accusers Ann Putnam, Sr., and Mary Warren (who has a unique role as an afflicted girl later accused of witchcraft herself.)
The Salem Witch Museum will be hosting a meet & greet and book signing with Roach on October 3 at 6pm.
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Sources:
“Salem Witch Museum; Meet the Author & Book Signing – Marilynne K. Roach.” Salem Witch Museum, www.salemwitchmuseum.com/blog/
Wakefield, Judy. “Bewitching Times; New Book Chronicles Andover’s Place During Infamous Trials.” The Andover Townsman, 15 Aug. 2013, www.andovertownsman.com/townspeople/x1084954507/Bewitching-times-New-book-chronicles-Andovers-place-during-infamous-trials
There is another great book about Salem that goes beyond the cities importance during the Witch Trials. “Salem Secret Underground: The History of the Tunnels in the City” highlights the tunnels built by the Federalist to avoid paying Jefferson’s custom duties that was utilized by Charles Lenox Remond to move runaway slaves to safety. It gives some better color to Salem than its mini genocide. There is a great Salem walking tour (salemtunneltour.com) attached to it too.