Hester

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. In what ways does Albanese’s reimagining of The Scarlet Letter through Isobel’s story change your perception of Hawthorne’s classic novel?

2. Which aspects of the novel’s blend of historical fact with fiction did you find most compelling?

3. Albanese’s previous novel Stolen Beauty also explores how a famous creator (Gustav Klimt) was influenced by a woman in his life. What similarities or differences do you notice in how she brings historically marginalized female perspectives to the forefront in both works?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. What aspects of yourself have you ever felt compelled to conceal from others, similar to how Isobel hides her synesthesia?

2. Isobel observes that “men fixate on the past when every woman I have ever known is trying to remedy the present while she builds hope for what is to come” (241-42). Does this observation reflect any patterns you’ve witnessed in your own life?

3. What examples of community support networks, like those formed by the women in Salem, have shaped your life?

4. Describe a time when your perception of someone’s character dramatically shifted, similar to Isobel’s changing view of Nat.

5. Throughout the novel, Isobel weighs practicality against morality when she continues working for the Silases despite knowing their connection to enslavement. What ethical compromises have you witnessed or experienced in your professional life?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. What parallels do you see between Salem’s complicated relationship with its witch trial history and how communities today confront difficult historical legacies?

2. Albanese references Hawthorne’s infamous complaint about “scribbling” women dominating American literature. In what ways does her novel respond to this historical dismissal of women writers?

3. How does the novel’s portrayal of the Underground Railroad illuminate the complexities of resistance to systemic injustice?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What does the transformation of the scarlet “A” throughout the novel suggest about Albanese’s dialogue with Hawthorne’s famous symbol?

2. Examine the function of Isobel’s synesthesia as both a character trait and a narrative device in driving the plot forward.

3. The contrasting characters of Nat Hathorne and Captain Darling represent different versions of masculinity in the novel. What message does this juxtaposition convey?

4. Why does Albanese alternate between Isobel’s story and historical interludes about witch trials?

5. The novel presents different interpretations of “magic” from various characters’ perspectives. How do these varying viewpoints contribute to the novel’s themes about power and perception?

6. Analyze how embroidery functions as both a practical skill and a symbolic language for the women in the novel, particularly for Isobel and Mercy.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to design your own piece of embroidery inspired by Isobel’s work, what symbols and hidden messages would you include?

2. The novel ends with Isobel preparing to tell Margaret about her past. Write a brief scene imagining how this conversation unfolds and how Margaret responds to learning her true parentage and her mother’s history.

3. What themes and storylines would you like to see explored if Albanese were to write a sequel focusing on Margaret’s life in Canada?

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