Mary Deerfield, 24, seeks to divorce her abusive husband in 1662 Puritan New England, a time and place where divorce was nearly nonexistent and witchcraft hysteria was emerging.
Mary's parents had brought her from England as a teenager and saw her married to Thomas Deerfield, a prosperous Boston widower twice her age. Mary attempts to conceal signs of Thomas's physical and emotional abuse and wonders whether her childlessness is a sign of God's displeasure. She finally has had too much when Thomas drives a fork into her hand, breaking bones. She flees to her parents' home and files for divorce, but the patriarchal court denies it, and she is compelled to return to Thomas. He resumes berating and beating her, casting his behavior as for the good of her soul. Mysterious signs suggest to the superstitious Puritans that Mary is a witch, and she suffers through a second hostile trial.
Mary's courageous and honest character makes for a rewarding read even though the ending is unconvincing.
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