Which Witch?

The Heretic’s Daughter tells the story of Martha Carrier, a woman accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. Her story is narrated by her daughter Sarah, who like Martha, is strong-willed and challenges the unjust world they live in. Unlike her mother, however, Sarah lives to tell the tale. Martha Carrier was one of the first women in Salem to be tried and hanged as a witch. Back then people knew how to recognize a witch. They had a rather complicated system for discovering someone’s guilt or innocence but basically it boiled down to this: If a woman weighed the same as a duck then she must be made of wood. And therefore? A witch! Interestingly, Kathleen Kent, the author of The Heretic’s Daughter, is a 10th generation descendant of Martha Carrier. So while history may be written by the victors, historical fiction is written by the descendants of the losers. Kathleen Kent will give a book talk, Q&A session and book signing 7 p.m. Wednesday at Barnes & Noble, 7700 W. Northwest Highway. For more information, call 214-739-1124.

Wed., Sept. 17, 7 p.m., 2008