RavenFlyer Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 The Daughters of the Witching Hill is by Mary Sharratt. It is about Mother Demdike and her family. It starts in the middle of the story then goes back to the beginning to when Demdike first meets her familiar Tibb. The author used primary sources as well as Emma Wilbu's book on cunning folk and familiar spirits. It was the first book in a long time that I actually felt for the characters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinney Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Sounds interesting. Can you give us a little more info? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tana Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Yes please! More info. This is a bit of a trending topic, what with Spinneys link to the documentary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavenFlyer Posted August 24, 2011 Author Share Posted August 24, 2011 It's a historical fiction novel. It follows the family from the time Elizabeth (mother Demdike) first meets Tibb her familiar all the way to their trial for witchcraft. I don't want to say too much about it because I don't want to give any spoilers away. It's such a great book. Her daughter follows in her footsteps but then turns her back on her powers and familiar. It also involves her neighboring cunning woman and her rival Chattox. The author focuses on her charms for healing which uses a lot of catholic prayers and invoking saints (which according to the author are documented amongst primary sources of the trial and other cunning folk). At the time under Elizabeth I and King James it was as dangerous to be a loyal papist as it was to be a witch. Which Demdike was both. The story also show how er involvement with other families of Pendle forest brought about problems and miseries for them as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineheart Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 That sounds like a really interesting book RF! As Tana said there is a lot of stuff about the Pendle Witches which I just can't get enough of! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 I just ordered it (damn that "buy with one click" button!!!). I really liked Emma Wilby's non-fictional book (although was not an easy read, lol) and hopefully this will be just as good. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavenFlyer Posted August 25, 2011 Author Share Posted August 25, 2011 Here is the amazon link to it. There is a lot of information on the book and interviews with the author. http://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Witching-Hill-Mary-Sharratt/dp/0547422296/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314233105&sr=8-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevioletsunflower Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Just picked this up at our local Borders for 70% off (the chain is going out of business) and came here to see if anyone was talking about it. What luck! I saw it and thought "now this I must read". Usually I research my books before I pick them up, even fiction, but obviously didn't have time right then standing in the middle of a severely picked through dying bookstore. I'm excited to start it and will have to share my thoughts on it once I'm done (if I remember to...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anjeaunot Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 It is worth noting that Elizabeth Device died maintaining her innocence. Anne Redfearne, the daughter of Old Chattox, was found Not Guilty. "This verdict displeased both the court and the mob, and she was tried again for bewitching to death Robert's father, Christopher Nutter". Did the book mention the preposterous evidence? "James told a weird story of stealing the communion bread on Maundy Thursday. When he returned home, a hare asked him for the bread; James crossed himself, and the hare vanished". Old Demdike died in jail. Old Chattox confessed her guilt. Nearly all the other accused insisted on their innocence, even on the gallows. Source: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology by R.H. Robbins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavenFlyer Posted September 3, 2011 Author Share Posted September 3, 2011 I don't remember that specific story being used as evidence. However, there quite a few "extraordinary" stories told. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethNicks Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I borrowed this title from library and am now reading it. I can't say it's one of my favourite recent reads but I do find the writer has drawn me into her story ... she has obviously researched her material in great detail. I'm enjoying my reading! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I bought this book and read it. Due to the nature of the story I can't exactly say I enjoyed it, but it was an excellent book. I especially liked the way it went into the weaving of the Roman-Catholic latin verses into the charms, which makes sense for one raised in that time. I also liked the "3 roads" leading to either hell, heaven, or earth (Queen of Elphame). Oh - and I loved the bit about the canopy on a bed keeping the bugs from hitting you as they fell out of the roof thatching. I always wondered the purpose of canopy beds... M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethNicks Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 I bought this book and read it. Due to the nature of the story I can't exactly say I enjoyed it, but it was an excellent book. I especially liked the way it went into the weaving of the Roman-Catholic latin verses into the charms, which makes sense for one raised in that time. I also liked the "3 roads" leading to either hell, heaven, or earth (Queen of Elphame). Oh - and I loved the bit about the canopy on a bed keeping the bugs from hitting you as they fell out of the roof thatching. I always wondered the purpose of canopy beds... M I"m half-way through the book but this is how I've felt as well. I've actually made notes where the author mentions specific traditional RC prayers and verses for particular charms ... I'd like to research this aspect further. I suspect I'd like this author's non-fiction more than her fiction ... there's a tremendous depth of research behind this fictional work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 I"m half-way through the book but this is how I've felt as well. I've actually made notes where the author mentions specific traditional RC prayers and verses for particular charms ... I'd like to research this aspect further. I suspect I'd like this author's non-fiction more than her fiction ... there's a tremendous depth of research behind this fictional work. If you are enjoying this then you would definitely enjoy Emma Wilby's "Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits" which was used as part of the info in this book (if I remember correctly, lol)... M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevioletsunflower Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Getting ready to pick up this book (might not be able to wait until I am done with Dance With Dragons!) and I looked at the author's website. Her interview about the book is really interesting and for those of you who haven't read the book/don't own it there is a section for "Demdike's Charmes" which is what has already been talked about a bit here on the thread. Plus she lists Emma Wilby's "Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits" in her "Further Reading" section. Makes me want to check out the others she names as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Getting ready to pick up this book (might not be able to wait until I am done with Dance With Dragons!) and I looked at the author's website. Her interview about the book is really interesting and for those of you who haven't read the book/don't own it there is a section for "Demdike's Charmes" which is what has already been talked about a bit here on the thread. Plus she lists Emma Wilby's "Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits" in her "Further Reading" section. Makes me want to check out the others she names as well. I picked this book up and read it last weekend. It was an excellent book although it did make me a bit sad, but then I'm one of those peeps who loves happy endings, lol. Emma Wilby's book I loved and would recommend to anyone interested in the craft and/or the trials. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevioletsunflower Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 I finished this book a few days back. It took me a bit to get into it mainly because I had just finished A Dance With Dragons and couldn't seem to get that series off my mind. But once I did get into I zoomed through it. My very disjointed thoughts follow- I thought it was great. Not too heavy of a read. The end made my blood boil and very sad all at once. It's unbelievable what human beings will put each other through all for the sake of getting ahead and being right about something no one could possibly speak with any real authority on. I especially enjoyed the description of their workings. I have a soft spot for Christianity and prayer so I found it very interesting and beautiful. I felt the same way about Bess's description of the "Old Religion". It was nice to see it written as something that was simply done vs. adding the Hollywood flare. I do like the author's writing style though I felt some things that could have been delivered with more of a punch sort of petered out like the very end of the book. One of these days I may offer a more detailed and coherent review but for now I'll leave it at that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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