Writes Historical Fiction

Book Club Questions

  1. What is your first impression of Sarah Solart? Describe her personality.
  2. Describe Putnam family dynamics.
  3. What is your first impression of Salem Village? Does the village change much between 1672 and 1692?
  4. Do you think the selection process appointing Reverend Bayley minister for the Salem Village church was fair?
  5. What was your first impression of Reverend James Bayley?
  6. Describe the relationship between Ann Carr and her sister Mary Carr Bayley. Do you think Ann is too dependent on Mary?
  7. In the story, Thomas Putnam’s attraction to Ann Carr starts the moment they meet. What do you think of their courtship?
  8. How is Thomas Putnam affected by the battle at the swamp in North Kingston, Rhode Island?
  9. As the years go by, Thomas Putnam’s expectations are disappointed. First by the bloody swamp battle. Then his wife’s inheritance falls through. Finally, and most bitterly, Thomas’s father bequeaths the bulk of his estate not to Thomas, his eldest son, but to Joseph, the youngest. And then there are Thomas’s nightmares. What kind of man has Thomas become by 1692?
  10. How does Sarah Solart fare after her father’s death? What is her situation when she agrees to marry Daniel Poole?
  11. Did Daniel Poole marry Sarah because he thought she would inherit from her father’s estate? Did he love her?
  12. How does Daniel Poole’s death affect Sarah emotionally and economically? What becomes of her?
  13. Why does William Good marry Sarah? Do you think their marriage was a happy one?
  14. How does Sarah fall into poverty?
  15. What do you think of Reverend Samuel Parris? How well does he get along with other villagers? What type of sermons does he preach?
  16. Why do you think the witchcraft hysteria engulfed Salem Village?
  17. Why do you think Thomas Putnam became so committed to ferreting out witches? Was he afraid of witchcraft? Trying to protect his daughter? Trying to protect his reputation as a village leader? What do you think?
  18. Why did people think Sarah Good was a witch?
  19. Were the women and girls who accused Sarah Good honest in their charges? Did they experience the physical pains of pinching, or were they caught up in their own fear?
  20. What do you think of Magistrate John Hathorne? Is he looking for the truth, or does he just want a quick conviction of Sarah Good and other accused witches?
  21. Do some villagers, for example Samuel Braybrook, begin to have second thoughts about the alleged witches? Do their doubts make any difference?
  22. Was Sarah Good’s trial fair? Once accused of witchcraft, was there any chance Sarah would be declared innocent?