Daughters of the Witching Hill
By Mary Sharratt
Quote: "No, indeed. No one will let you. They'll come banging on your door at all hours, calling on you for this and that. Just be careful, love. It's a gift you've been given, but even gifts don't come for nothing. You might have to pay more than you bargained." ~Anne Whittle(Chattox) pg. 43
Started: May 17, 2018
Finished: May 24, 2018
paperback/333pages
From the Cover:
In Daughters of the Witching Hill, Mary Sharratt brings history to life in a vivid and wrenching novel of strong women, family, and betrayel inspired by the 1612 Pendle witch trials.
Bess southerns, an impoverished widow, lives with her children in a crumbling old tower in Pendle Forest. Drawing on Catholic ritual, medicinal herbs, and guidance from her spirit-friend Tibb, Bess heals the sick and foretells the future in exchange for food and drink. As she ages, she instructs her best friend, Anne, and her granddaughter, Alizon, in her craft. Though Anne ultimately turns to dark magic, Alizon intends to use her craft for good. But when a peddler suffers a stroke after exchanging harsh words with Alizon, a local magistrate tricks her into accusing her family and neighbors of witchcraft. Suspicion and paranoia reach frenzied heights as friends and loved ones turn on one another and the novel draws to an inevitable conclusion.
My Review:
There is so much I want to say about this book!
This story is listed as a historical fiction but it is based off the actual lives, events and trials of the Lancashire/Pendle Forest witches of 1612.
I honestly had not heard anything about the hunts or trials in England to this extent.
While most of us, including myself, are very aware of the Salem witch trials, this was definitely an intriguing new find for myself.
Bess Southerns, known as Old Demdike was known to be a widowed cunning woman. A healer, who earned her living healing and blessing animals and people. After King James I took the throne, many people began to fear woman like Demdike.
They were not only becoming informed that these such people were "working for the devil" but it was also put into law that if any participated in "witchcraft" or knew of anyone doing so and did not come forward would also be punished.
Fear, belief, ignorance, being misinformed, and most likely poverty all started a chaotic panic in the beginnings of a Witch Hunt.
Everyone became suspicious of each other. Friend, neighbor, even families.
It became a very real game of either being found guilty yourself, or give a name of someone else suspected of witchcraft to save yourself.
That is exactly what happens in Daughters of the Witching Hill.
Bess teaches her long time friend, Anne(Chattox) her craft with the understanding and trust that Anne will not only keep this to herself but also, that she only intends to use it as protection and for good not evil or revenge.
That doesn't last long. For Anne has plans of her own that aren't exactly "Christian like".
Bess has also taught her granddaughter, Alizon. Bess's daughter had no interest in becoming a cunning woman and her husband(John Devise) is the poster picture for those paranoid and afraid of the craft.
John constantly thinks Chattox has cursed him, is cursing him, or is planning on cursing him.
This story is full of daily struggles, day to day lives. Families, friends, foes.
There is love, hurt, healing, poverty, suffering, perseverance, and prayer.
There are herbs, clay figures, and buried cat skulls too.
While this book is fiction, it is written in a wonderful way to get you into the minds of how they lived, what they would have felt and done. I love that it shows how the times were and the way people reacted to what was going on around them.
I definitely would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Witch trials, history, or England.
Again, while it is a fiction it was extremely educational and informative.
5 STARS!
Here are a few links I have gathered to pique your interest!
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