John Neal
Rachel Dyer : $b A North American story
"Rachel Dyer: A North American Story" by John Neal is a Gothic historical novel published in 1828. Set during the Salem witch trials, it follows the fictionalized minister George Burroughs and the invented character Rachel Dyer as they confront mounting hysteria and false accusations of witchcraft. With most of the story unfolding in the courtroom, the novel tracks multiple trials of alleged witches, exploring themes of justice, republican ideals, and the collision between Old World authority and New World freedom. This pioneering work became the first bound novel about Salem's dark chapter.