Laurie Lico Albanese’s 2022 historical novel, Hester, is an agreeable reimagining of the origin story behind Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic The Scarlet Letter. Set in the early 1800s, it focuses on whether there was a real-life inspiration for Hester Prynne. The character of Isobel Gamble fills that void. Imagining her as a talented Scottish immigrant the novel blends themes of feminism, artistic creation, and magical realism, detailing Isobel’s journey from a naive bride to a resilient, independent woman in Salem, Massachusetts.
Isobel leaves Edinburgh with her apothecary husband, Edward, hoping for a new life, but her dreams are quickly shattered. Edward is a man addicted to opium and burdened by debt; shortly after arriving in Salem, he abandons Isobel to work as a medic on a ship, leaving her alone in a strange country with little money. Unlike the timid women often depicted in historical narratives, Isobel is a skilled needleworker with a pragmatic sense of survival.
Struggling to make ends meet, Isobel finds work in a dress shop and begins to forge a life in a town plagued by intense social hierarchies and a haunting memory of its own witch-trial history. Isobel is not ordinary: she experiences synesthesia, a condition where she sees letters and words as vivid, distinct colors—an ability she feels connects her to her Scottish ancestor, Isobel Gowdie, who was accused of being a witch.
The narrative takes a pivotal turn when Isobel meets a young, handsome, and troubled Nathaniel Hawthorne, referred to as “Nat.” Drawn together, Isobel and Nat form an intense bond. Nat is haunted by his ancestral past—specifically, his relatives who served as judges during the Salem witch trials. Isobel becomes his muse, and in turn, she finds in him a kindred spirit, though the relationship is complicated by her existing marriage, social standing, and his narcissistic tendency to view her through the lens of his art.
As they begin a passionate affair, the town’s latent misogyny and xenophobia begin to close in on Isobel. Her unique talents and outsider status make her a target of suspicion. Throughout the story, Isobel matures, learning to trust in her own artistic voice and abilities rather than relying on men for security. She eventually finds a deep, supportive friendship with other characters, including Mercy, a Black woman navigating the treacherous landscape of American race relations, which opens Isobel’s eyes to the brutalities of slavery.
Hester is a lush, vibrant, and obvious feminist retelling that gives agency to the “woman behind the letter.” It is a testament to the resilience of women who are forced to navigate societies that seek to punish them for their talent and passion.