Technically this is a play, not a novel. But it very much can be read and enjoyed like a book. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, written in 1953, is a powerful dramatic work set against the backdrop of the Salem witch trials of 1692. It was written as a direct allegory for the anti-communist “Red Scare” […]
This is a memorable story that can, at times, be dirty, sappy, and heavily nostalgic. It also paints a fascinating picture of the New England home-front in the war-ravaged year 1942. One could also argue about whether this quasi-novel belongs on our list of New England based novels, because it’s based on the semi-autobiographical screenplay
Esther Forbes’s Johnny Tremain is a coming‑of‑age historical novel set in the charged atmosphere of pre‑Revolutionary Boston. It follows the transformation of a proud, talented young apprentice silversmith into a committed participant in the struggle for American independence. Through Johnny’s personal trials and encounters with key historical events, Forbes blends fiction and history to illuminate
Carolyn Chute’s The Beans of Egypt, Maine (1985) is a raw, unflinching portrait of rural poverty. Set between 1960 and the early seventies, it follows the notorious Bean family—Reuben, Roberta, and Beal—as they struggle with violence, hunger, and societal disdain. Seen through the eyes of their neighbor Earlene Pomerleau, the story highlights Earlene’s strict, pious upbringing
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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 novel is a classic New England Gothic romance, exploring inherited guilt, retribution, and atonement. The story centers around the aristocratic Pyncheon family in Salem, and a dark mansion built by Colonel Pyncheon on land stolen from an accused wizard Matthew Maule. It carries a generational curse: “God will give him blood to
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This one is a true classic. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 work, The Scarlet Letter, is considered by many to be a masterpiece of its time. The book remains a popular assignment in high school and college, and is a cornerstone of American literature, providing a haunting look into the heart of 17th-century Puritan Boston. Often cited
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The Winthrop Woman was quite a popular book when it appeared in 1958, but it’s one of those books that is forgotten by many, except for some die-hard fans. It’s worth a look because it’s a meticulously researched historical novel detailing the life of Elizabeth Fones, a startlingly independent woman defying the rigid, dogmatic Puritan
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