How easily entire villages can turn against those whom they so recently called one of their own, just because of a pointed finger and an accusation born from a half-truth, with no evidence to back it up. In a time when witches were thought to be running rampant, consorting with the Devil and allowing him to guide them, it did not take much for one to end up on trial. And once on trial, there was a good chance that the verdict would be one of guilty, and in this time of horror and superstition, the sentence would be death.
This novel explores both sides of the witch trials, from the perspective of a man hell-bent on ridding the world of such evil, and from the perspective of a woman who has done no wrong, other than practice healing and fall in love. John Sharpe has lost people to so-called ‘witches’ and he is convinced that he is doing God’s bidding in finding these witches and sending them to their deaths. Jane Chandler, however, just wants to live her life out in happiness, but the world seems to throw curveball after curveball at her, and every time she comes closer and closer to being unable to dodge them.
This book was not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting the story to be revolved around the Newcastle witch trials, but rather, it is a story about John and Jane as they grow up in their separate lives, and how their lives led them to the witch trials. The Newcastle witch trials take place at the very end of the book. I still enjoyed the novel, although at times I felt it bordered on horror. I understand that such events took place, and the treatment of some people was abhorrent, but the detail into which some of this torturous treatment is described, especially from John’s perspective (and it is in the first person) made me cringe. This attention to detail was a little too much for me to cope with (I should have taken note of the trigger warnings). I understand why the author has included these scenes – there is a certain shock factor - but it makes for some very disturbing reading.
I absolutely loved reading about Jane, she has such an innocent character, and her chapters provided a much welcome break from John’s chapters, which I dreaded. His character is simply horrible, and I hate to think that people like him carried out actions such as he did.
I must quickly mention that I received the audio copy, narrated by Christine Mackie, of this book. I thought Mackie brought the world and the characters back to life, and I loved all the different accents!
The author clearly knows a lot about this era, and this book depicts the era in immense detail, but I do wish there was less description around the sexual violence towards the women of this novel. However, this book was incredibly educational, and if you want a book that focuses on the horror of the witch trials, then this is the one for you.
The new audio book of Widdershins is narrated brilliantly by talented actor, Christine Mackie, from Downton Abbey, Coronation Street, Wire in the Blood, and so on.
The first part of a two-part series, Widdershins is inspired by the Newcastle witch trials, where 16 people were hanged. Despite being the largest mass execution of witches on a single day in England, these trials are not widely known about. In August 1650, 15 women and one man were hanged as witches after a Scottish witchfinder found them guilty of consorting with the devil. This notorious man was hired by the Puritan authorities in response to a petition from the Newcastle townsfolk who wanted to be rid of their witches.
Widdershins is told through the eyes of Jane Chandler, a young woman accused of witchcraft, and John Sharpe, the witchfinder who condemns her to death. Jane Chandler is an apprentice healer. From childhood, she and her mother have used herbs to cure the sick. But Jane soon learns that her sheltered life in a small village is not safe from the troubles of the wider world. From his father’s beatings to his uncle’s raging sermons, John Sharpe is beset by bad fortune. Fighting through personal tragedy, he finds his purpose: to become a witchfinder and save innocents from the scourge of witchcraft.
Trigger Warnings:
Domestic abuse, rape, torture, execution, child abuse, animal abuse, miscarriage, death in childbirth.
Praise for Widdershins:
The Historical Novel Society said of Widdershins: “Impeccably written, full of herbal lore and the clash of ignorance and prejudice against common sense, as well as the abounding beauty of nature, it made for a great read. There are plenty of books, both fact and fiction, available about the witch-trial era, but not only did I not know about such trials in Newcastle, I have not read a novel that so painstakingly and vividly evokes both the fear and joy of living at that time.”
Downton Abbey's Christine Mackie talking
about her experience of narrating the Widdershins audiobook
If you would like to read/listen to this novel you can find it at the follow bookstores:
Dr Helen Steadman is a historical novelist. Her first novel, Widdershins and its sequel, Sunwise were inspired by the Newcastle witch trials. Her third novel, The Running Wolf was inspired by a group of Lutheran swordmakers who defected from Germany to England in 1687.
Despite the Newcastle witch trials being the largest mass execution of witches on a single day in England, they are not widely known about. Helen is particularly interested in revealing hidden histories and she is a thorough researcher who goes to great lengths in pursuit of historical accuracy. To get under the skin of the cunning women in Widdershins and Sunwise, Helen trained in herbalism and learned how to identify, grow and harvest plants and then made herbal medicines from bark, seeds, flowers and berries.
The Running Wolf is the story of a group of master swordmakers who left Solingen, Germany and moved to Shotley Bridge, England in 1687. As well as carrying out in-depth archive research and visiting forges in Solingen to bring her story to life, Helen also undertook blacksmith training, which culminated in making her own sword. During her archive research, Helen uncovered a lot of new material and she published her findings in the Northern History journal.
Helen is now working on her fourth novel.
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Christine Mackie (narrator) has worked extensively in TV over the last thirty years in well-known TV series such as Downton Abbey, Wire in the Blood, Coronation Street, French & Saunders and The Grand. Theatre work includes numerous productions in new writing as well as classics, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Comedy of Errors, Richard III, An Inspector Calls, and the Railway Children. In a recent all women version of Whisky Galore, Christine played three men, three women and a Red Setter dog!
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Thanks very much for reviewing and apologies for any trauma. Do let me know if you'd like to read the sequel, although it does have the same trigger warnings. (If you have time and you're able, could you please add your review to Audible - both Christine and I would be immensely grateful.) Best wishes, Helen Steadman
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