Bestselling author Laurie Lico Albanese joins BOOKSTORM to talk about HESTER, her masterful reimagining the tragic heroine in The Scarlett Letter! You’ll never read that classic the same. Laurie captivated us with little-known historical facts — the very beginnings of the Underground Railroad, the dark side of Nathaniel Hawthorne, and the black families that established thriving businesses and helped shift perceptions during a horrific chapter in our past. We talk about extraordinary women during a dangerous time in history … a time when people ascribed certain gifts (also a curse!) to witchcraft and sought to squelch those traits. And what exactly is synesthesia?? These ambitious heroines stood up to sexism and racism, and found their voice in unique ways. They took control over their future. We explore the complexity of issues surrounding immigration. Why do we fear “others?” And who exactly is the outsider in a nation of primarily immigrants? Did Hester find her people? Join us to find out!
(And … how does the old country song “real bad boy, but a real good man” tie into this discussion?!)
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