Title: The Trial of Hannah Duston
Author: Richard W. Pyne
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 0595224830
Genre: History, Non-Fiction
Pages: 108
Reviewed by: Arthur Thares
Pacific Book Review
History is a tricky subject to write about because if not done properly, it can be dry and monotonous. There are only so many ways you can interestingly relay historical facts. I would be lying if I said I didn’t go into this book, expecting it to be boring. What I found instead was some intriguing historical information along with a story in which I became entirely too engrossed.
The first quarter of the book is a historical look at the court system at the time of Hannah’s trial. Author Richard W. Pyne gives detailed information on how a trial would run in the early days of the United States. It is easy to forget how much this country has changed since its inception and trials today are nothing like they were in the 1600s. I’m not entirely sure that the historical knowledge does anything to add to the story of Hannah Duston, but it is still thought-provoking knowledge to have.
The story takes place over a few days where Hannah is on trial for unspeakable crimes. It unfolds much like a courtroom procedural with both sides calling witnesses and crossexamining them. I found myself getting way too drawn into the fate of Hannah and whether she committed the crime of which she was accused. The story has a sufficient ending, but I found it melodramatic, and it is still up to the reader, in the end, to decide whether they think Hannah was truly guilty of the crimes for which she was on trial. I found the book to be well written and easy to read. The Trial of Hannah Duston is written in a way that is accessible to readers of all ages but doesn’t pander to a certain demographic. The author does a great job of writing in the format of an engaging story instead of forcing readers to read facts in a paragraph format. This style made the book much more enjoyable and easier to relate to the characters.
This is a quick read that you will find more entertaining than it sounds. I came away from this book with a new appreciation for a small part of the history of our nation. Hannah’s trial was one of many that were nearly identical to hers though her fate is a bit different than most. I wholeheartedly endorse this book as a great way to pass some time and accidentally learn a few things in the process.