The Puritans

"The Puritans" by Arlo Bates is a historical novel that plunges into the challenges of Puritanism, and how it continues to sculpt the morals and beliefs of folks in the evolving world the late 1800's. The story opens with Mrs. Herman and Philip Ashe, cousins with different perspectives on their shared past; Philip holds strongly to more strict Puritan values, while Mrs. Herman embraces new ways of thinking. Their discussions highlight the big questions in the story, mainly how personal and social morality are changing. When the Clergy House is damaged by fire, Philip steps into Boston's ethical scene, and is confronted by the lecture of a Persian seer whom presents contrasting ideas about spirituality and sin. This sets the stage for conflicts about temptation, ethics, and the struggle between old and new beliefs.