Isobel is a young lady with the gift of the needle. She is a beautiful seamstress and tells stories, sends messages with her gorgeous embroidery. She marries an apothecary and is on the road to a prosperous life. However, his opium addiction secures their place in the poorhouse. Her father sends them to America to make a new start there. Her husband, Edward, leaves her penniless in Salem, Massachusetts. Having a relative been accused of being a witch, she has a strong tie to Salem. She begins to use her needle skills to trade for food and support her self. She becomes friends with Nathaniel Hawthorne. A brief affair with him leads to a pregnancy which will lead to her being outcast. What happens to Edward? How did she survive and raise her daughter Margaret? The ship captain who brought them to America is a lifesaver. Does Margaret ever discover who her father was? When Nathaniel Hawthorne publishes The Scarlet Letter, much is revealed.
This book gives us a glimpse at several different Important aspects of history. Slavery, class, immigrants, and much, much more. A great book for lovers of historical fiction.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
