Lois the Witch

Despite the typos in my edition, I loved this. I need to get my hands on more Gaskell immediately. This was the story of poor, orphaned Lois who picked the wrong time to go stay with family in Salem. There are some read WTF? moments in this. For less than 200 pages, I cannot believe how jam-packed it was. Breaking the 4th wall, Gaskell comes in to remind us how the people of this time KNEW IN THEIR HEARTS that what they called witchcraft was real and an immediate threat to all citizens at all times. This was as real as potential attack from the natives who lived in the forest. Even more disturbing is a sub-plot of a pervy cousin deciding that Lois should marry him or suffer consequences.
Shiver!
I loved this.