My Enemy's Tears: The Witch of Northampton

An All Too Familiar Story This is the story of Mary Bliss Parsons, a young girl who moved from England to Massachusetts with her family in the early part of the 17th. century. The book is based on true events in the author's family history and follows an all-too familiar pattern of life as an outsider in a puritan society. Mary Bliss starts life as a servant girl but marries an ambitious man who works hard to become rich. He enjoys spending his wealth on his wife and family. The couple are fortunate that ‘only' 2 of their many children die but this charmed life has its price - the jealousy of their neighbours. This jealousy turns to cries of witchcraft when her neighbours look for someone to blame for their misfortune. However, unlike so many of the trials for witchcraft at the time, Mary is so fortunate as to be found innocent. A really good read.