First Line: Catharine Read Arnold Williams was a fearless woman.
When Sarah Maria Cornell was found dead on a small New England farm in the winter of 1832, her death was considered a suicide. But when certain details of her past and a secret correspondence with a popular local Methodist minister were uncovered, people began to wonder if Sarah's death could actually be murder.
Writer Catharine Reed Arnold Williams was determined to uncover the truth and wrote what many believe to be the first American true-crime book. The murder divided the country and inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, but the reverend was not convicted.
True-crime historian Kate Winkler Dawson set a goal to finish Williams' work. Using modern investigative techniques, Dawson fills in the gaps of Williams' research to find the truth.
~
Having read previous books by Dawson, I know she's a master at picking fascinating topics, and-- of course-- I have memories of reading Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter in high school. (I didn't like his writing style, but the story certainly stuck with me.) I've also been known to dive into true crime now and again, so... there's no way I could've ignored The Sinners All Bow.
Dawson's research brings to light a murder victim who preferred the autonomy of millwork and refused to settle down with a husband and children. Her research also brought to light questions about author Catharine Williams. Yes, she was the first author to advocate for the crime victim, but could everything she wrote be trusted to be fact?
Dawson's deep dive into the history of the times and the backgrounds of the major players (Sarah Maria Cornell, Catharine Williams, Reverend Ephraim Avery) brings to light some fascinating facts-- including ones that prove we haven't changed all that much in two hundred years.
The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne
eISBN: 9780593713624
G.P. Putnam's Sons © 2025
320 pages
Non-Fiction
Rating: B+
Source: Net Galley
Oh, this does sound fascinating, Cathy. I can't say I read a lot of true crime, but I read it sometimes, and this story gets my attention. It's especially interesting that she looks at both thte victim and the original author.
ReplyDeleteTrue crime with a literary tie-in definitely piques my interest - and makes me wonder when to fit this in with all the others I want to read!
ReplyDelete