The Stratford Devil

In the spring of 1651, nearly half a century before the infamous witch trials of Salem, Mass., a woman known as Goody Bassett was hanged for witchcraft in Stratford, Conn. Few facts are known about this woman and the events surrounding her persecution.

This haunting and moving novel, crafted from those few facts as well as detailed accounts of Stratford's early history, tells the tale of young Ruth Paine - later Goodwife Bassett - and how her singular experience beyond the confines of her Puritan world ultimately leads to her demise.

Rich in historical insight, The Stratford Devil gives a touching look into the painfully isolated world of an independent woman as she struggles to survive in circumstances beyond her control. With its focus on religion and terror, The Stratford Devil is a parable for our times.

"Claude Smith [is] just the kind of teacher everyone should have at least once. And now The Stratford Devil proves that he's an excellent writer too."
- Judy Kweller, The Roanoke Times

"This book brings the reader back not to just the roots of Stratford but to the earliest cultural roots of America. The reader is led to a deeper understanding of our earliest immigrant forefathers, and through that to a fuller understanding of himself and our culture. The Stratford Devil is historical, sensual, and smoothly written. It is the story of the Puritan break with nature which leads to the 1651 hanging of an innocent young woman."
- John M. Del Vecchio, author of Darkness Falls: An American Story

"The Stratford Devil is fascinating history, taut drama, daring romance. It is as authentic about daily life in the 1640s as it is about the unchanging human heart."
- Jonathan Penner, author of This Is My Voice, Winner of the Spokane Prize for Short Fiction

"... plausible, stunning ... A cunningly developed piece of historical fiction."
- Booklist