"Hawthorne indeed produces the very essence of that wild and heathen forest, for I, too, remember the shaking of faith that desolate wilderness inspires with savage creatures lurking and howling in the cover of night. The path of those turning away from the glory of God and heaven above must then face the consequences of a snarled and evil road. As Heb. 3:12-13 reads, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” I only hope one’s readers take its truest meaning away from this dark tale – never dare to abandon one’s Puritan beliefs and the harmony of its community, for pre-destined are we each, and thou can never be too doubtful."

- Mary Rowlandson, author of A Narrative of the Captivity and Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson
"I am proud beyond belief to read such a thrilling, well-crafted, and cautionary tale. While my great-grandson must have changed the spelling of our name to avoid the excess of fame following wherever he went –  as I cannot think of any other reason – he is right to look back on our family’s involvement in this dark hour of Salem. Indeed, this story shows the true level of darkness I encountered as I swiftly and relentlessly strove to oust Satan’s work as the highest court of the colonies and return that community to God. Some say I showed no remorse for those who dared to doubt my and God’s authority; I say look to Hawthorne’s description of that vital Puritain realization. With that dubious and ominous night that young Goodman Brown was initiated into the very heart of our religion – that those all aroud us may harbor the true nature of a foul and wicked sinner."

- Judge John Hathorne, great-grandfather of Nathaniel Hawthorne & leading judge in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692

Promotional Blurb Sources:

“Bible Gateway Passage: Hebrews 3:12-13 – New King James Version.” Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+3%3A12- 13&version=NKJV. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice, et al. “John Hathorne: Salem Witch Judge.” History of Massachusetts Blog, 24 Oct. 2021, historyofmassachusetts.org/john-hathorne-the-salem-witch-judge/. 

Tuttle, Jennifer. “Mary Rowlandson.”Writing, Revolution, and Resistance in US Literature. UNE Portfolio, https://eng200-a-s20.uneportfolio.org/2023/09/21/mary-rowlandson, Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Tuttle, Jennifer. “Nathaniel Hawthorne.”Writing, Revolution, and Resistance in US Literature. UNE Portfolio, https://eng200-a-s20.uneportfolio.org/nathaniel-hawthorne/, Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.