The most evocative and richly contextualised account of the Salem Witch trials in print. / A fascinating and intriguing history of the Salem Witch Trials. / Hardback was Radio 4 Book of the Week. / Francis' last novel Prospect Hill was critically acclaimed on publication, showing him to be a writer of great talent and versatility.
Richard Francis is a novelist, broadcaster and academic, who taught American Literature for a number of years at Manchester University where he is currently a visiting professor. He is the author of ‘Transcendental Utopias’, a study of American communities, and his two most recent novels are ‘Judge Sewell’s Apology’ and ‘Prospect Hill’. He teaches on the MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University College.
'A marvellous book ! intelligent, funny and sympathetic.' The Times 'A timely and disturbing book. Francis draws no contemporary parallels but it is hard to ignore the implications of the early ingrained vision he explores here with such lucidity: a threat of nameless, invisible, omnipresent terror so menacing that it overrides the rule of law and legitimises extremes of violence or torture in the name of the invincibly righteous, pure, innocent American people.' Hilary Spurling, Daily Telegraph 'Francis's biography offers the most balanced and richly contextualised account of the Salem trials currently in print. And in following so closely the advances and turnings of Sewall's innermost thoughts, he takes us on a real-life pilgrim's progress that is both exhilarating and, at times, deeply moving.' John Adamson, Sunday Telegraph Praise for Prospect Hill: 'Readers will like this. What makes Francis's book so satisfying is his bracing mixture of cool observation of foibles with real tenderness for his characters.' Maggie Gee, Sunday Times 'An extremely readable and very funny book. This is a world where everything is known, even the unexpected ! it is reliable, warm and inescapable.' Sean O'Brien, Times Literary Supplement 'Francis has a fine knack of giving voice to the voiceless ! Stockport may not be the centre of the universe, but for Francis it s fertile soil and he seems happily rooted. Prospect Hill is further shining evidence that he has nowhere to stay but out.' Guardian 'The Prose combines observations, Northern slang and fizzing but unforced one-liners to winningly breezy effect ! A big, good-hearted piece of literary entertainment.' Sunday Telegraph
'A marvellous book ! intelligent, funny and sympathetic.' The Times 'A timely and disturbing book. Francis draws no contemporary parallels but it is hard to ignore the implications of the early ingrained vision he explores here with such lucidity: a threat of nameless, invisible, omnipresent terror so menacing that it overrides the rule of law and legitimises extremes of violence or torture in the name of the invincibly righteous, pure, innocent American people.' Hilary Spurling, Daily Telegraph 'Francis's biography offers the most balanced and richly contextualised account of the Salem trials currently in print. And in following so closely the advances and turnings of Sewall's innermost thoughts, he takes us on a real-life pilgrim's progress that is both exhilarating and, at times, deeply moving.' John Adamson, Sunday Telegraph Praise for Prospect Hill: 'Readers will like this. What makes Francis's book so satisfying is his bracing mixture of cool observation of foibles with real tenderness for his characters.' Maggie Gee, Sunday Times 'An extremely readable and very funny book. This is a world where everything is known, even the unexpected ! it is reliable, warm and inescapable.' Sean O'Brien, Times Literary Supplement 'Francis has a fine knack of giving voice to the voiceless ! Stockport may not be the centre of the universe, but for Francis it s fertile soil and he seems happily rooted. Prospect Hill is further shining evidence that he has nowhere to stay but out.' Guardian 'The Prose combines observations, Northern slang and fizzing but unforced one-liners to winningly breezy effect ! A big, good-hearted piece of literary entertainment.' Sunday Telegraph
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