Do Celia Thaxter’s Norweigian Poems Hold Hidden Murder Clues?
VISIT our Smuttynose Murder and Celia Thaxter sections JUMP TO NORWEIGIAN POEMS – Karen – Thora – Lars Poet Celia Laighton Thaxter was fascinated by the Norwegian emigrants who found a year-round home on the harsh Isles of Shoals. She was drawn to their friendly, long-suffering nature and the fair skin, blue eyes and blonde hair of women like Thora. At least three of these immigrants became topics for her poems, including a verse portrait of Karen Christensen, one of the Smuttynose murder victims from 1873. Karen was the sister of Maren Hontvet and Ivan who lived on Smuttynose Island. She had been working for the Thaxter’s at their tourist hotel Appledore Island for two and half years, but through a twist of fate, was fired by Celia Thaxter’s mother Eliza just two weeks before her murder. According to a letter by Cedric Laighton dated February 23, 1873, the mother Eliza Laighton had shouted at Karen, “Depart and never come my way again!” Karen left the Laighton’s employ and returned to
