Summary Of Anne Hutchinson's American Jezebel

In her book, American Jezebel: The Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson, the Woman Who Defied the Puritans, Eve LaPlante explores parts of the life of Anne Hutchinson. Her intent is to tell the story of Anne Hutchinson’s life and clear her name as a woman who was accused of being a heretic in colonial America. LaPlante walks the reader through the trial Anne Hutchinson had with the leaders of her colony and gives background information throughout the book to share the story of Hutchinson’s life.
LaPlante starts the story of Anne Hutchinson’s life at the beginning of her well-known trial. She tells of the occurrences in the room and compares Hutchinson’s trial to her father’s trial, which was similar in their accusation and punishment. Hutchinson’s

LaPlante’s main purpose in writing American Jezebel is to answer questions many people have had about Anne Hutchinson’s life throughout this country’s existence and to help Hutchinson “claim her rightful place as America’s founding mother” (LaPlante xxi).
LaPlante’s American Jezebel is at times difficult to follow. It tells the story of Anne Hutchinson’s trial in Massachusetts, yet throughout the telling adds in additional facts. These facts are relevant to the book yet takes the reader off track for entire chapters at times. This makes it challenging for the reader to understand the story in its entirety. Because of this, American Jezebel was not as though-provoking as it was made out to be.
LaPlante uses several maps throughout her telling of Hutchinson’s story. There are not many pictures to contribute to the story, but it is made up for as she effectively conveys her points through details and background information. She frequently utilizes outside sources consisting of court opinions and transcriptions and personal journals of people involved in the case. She also utilizes other books written over the time period and life of Anne