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The Bewitching

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The Bewitching

By: Jill Dawson
Narrated by: Daphne Kouma, Jilly Bond
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About this listen

 A dazzling, shocking novel that speaks to our times, drawing on the 16th-century case of the witches of Warboys.

Alice Samuel might be old and sharp-tongued, but she's no fool. Visiting her new neighbours in her Fenland village, she suspects Squire Throckmorton's household is not as God-fearing as it seems and finds the children troubled. What she cannot foresee is that all five daughters will succumb in turn to a terrifying affliction and accuse her of witchcraft - who else to blame than an ugly, black-capped woman with mysterious healing skills?

The Throckmortons' maid Martha, uncomfortably aware of strange goings-on in the household herself, is reluctant to believe that Alice is a witch. Yet visiting scholars attracted by the news are convinced, evidence mounts and soon the entire village is swept up in the frenzied persecution of one of their own community.

Exploring a neglected episode in English history to powerful effect, The Bewitching chillingly conveys the brutal tribalism that can erupt in a closed society and how victims can be made to believe in their own wickedness.

(P)2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2022 Gold Dust Mentoring Ltd Biographical Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Biography Witchcraft Magic Scary Magic Users Village

Critic reviews

Novels about witch-hunts are not rare beasts, but The Bewitching, which is based on the true story of the witches of Warboys, is a particularly fine example. Tension builds, events spiral out of control and it builds to a devastating finale (Antonia Senior)
In this literary page-turner, Jill Dawson brings vividly to the page the chilling tale of the witches of Warboys . . . a compulsive and thought-provoking account of guilt and persecution (Paula Hawkins)
Jill Dawson enters thoroughly into her characters' religious world view, while giving a meaningful glance at the issues of today . . . she colours in the crude woodcut of history with passionate emotions and plausible motivations . . . And what more easy way to stifle an obstreperous woman's accusations than to accuse her first? Dawson's vivid retelling doesn't leave us with any comforting notion that human nature has advanced much (Suzi Feay)
This well-researched historical novel weaves history and literary fiction to powerful, chilling effect (Edward Argyle)
[A] finely tuned tale about power and persecution
Alice, demonised for being outspoken, is a timeless female archetype, rendered with great skill by Dawson . . . a terrific piece of storytelling, immersed in its period but rich in resonance for the Twitter generation (Max Davidson)
A deeply satisfying and highly feminist novel . . . Jill Dawson has a knack for putting you right in the time and place, dousing you in terrified concern and setting you alight. Highly recommended
An important novel which gave me fresh insight into the wicked mechanism of misogyny. The truth and sadness of it is breathtaking, and the writing is just wonderful (Sadie Jones)
Novels about witches - or, alternatively, women scapegoated, silenced and shunned - have flourished in recent years, but Dawson's is a cut above and cumulative in its emotional heft, being also an empathic examination of internalised misogyny and shame. And while its uncompromising denouement feels inevitable, a coda flares with reclaimed agency and even joy (Stephanie Cross)
She crafts magic out of darkness and light. Nothing evokes the past as vividly as her deft prose. Dark as The Bewitching is, with its uncanny echoes of our own times, we know we are safe in her superb, story-telling hands
Profoundly involving, vivid and new . . . she brings all a poet's skill for the seductive texture of life to a breathlessly exciting narrative
A magnificent writer. I would read her shopping lists
Set in the 16th century, The Bewitching by Jill Dawson promises a powerful and chilling tale of witchcraft and persecution from one of our most skilful and absorbing storytellers (Books of 2022)
A fascinating and deeply disturbing tale of witchcraft, male power, and the age-old fear of women
All stars
Most relevant
I was bewitched by the bewitching. Authentic & powerful it brought into the heart of a tragic witch trial in 16th century England which possessed shocking modern parallels.

Heart-rending story of a real witch trial

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I listened to this novel because I am very much fascinated with the actual story - of how the children, who were brought up differently in the Tudor times than the children tare today, who were firmly kept in check and were brought up to revere the adults, could turn the tables so dramatically to such a devastating effect that 3 adults lost their lives. The author spoke on "Not just the Tudors" podcast about not only reading a long pamphlet on the witch trial, but also about doing the research on the local area.
Unfortunately, she didn't seem to read an excellent research on the trial by P.C.Almond "The Witches of Warboys: an extraordinary story of sorcery, sadism and satanic possession". In this book, also based on the pamphlet, the author says that the afflicted girls often said "The spirit says "If Alice says this phrase "I am a witch and I bewitched the girls, and now I un-witch them and command the spirit to leave them", they would leave us alone". Poor Alice repeated the phrase, obviously incriminating herself in doing so (and that must have been apparent to the girls), and, naturally, the girls were ok, for a time being. She didn't mention that the girls in the real story often whispered to each other and collaborated to stage their fits, such as they said if they go to the next room, they will have a fit, were asked by the exasperated adults not to do it, did it anyway and - hey presto! - delivered a promised fit.

Now, if Jill Dawson put THAT in her book, then all the modern nonsense about (spoiler alert!) a girl being sexually abused by her father - as an explanation to why this was happening - wouldn't stand a chance. In fact, this is a very modern notion and as such should not be applied to any interpretation of the past. So this is my main disappointment with the book which claims to be based on the real story. The author chose the notion that predatory perverts existed in all times, but this is not the story to put them in.

The book is beautifully written, one can even almost not notice the modern writing gimmick of writing in the present sense. However, in my 7 years experience of real open fires, I have never seen or heard a log to "snap" (a twig could); neither is a squire a "position" to be given. In Tudor days squire was a social position, not a job to be given.

So, it could have been a much better book, exploring collective bullying of an easy target, and the higher social position of the accusers, even as children, meaning death sentence for poorer, less articulate neighbours.

Missed opportunity

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This is is such an interesting story. One, though the ending is known still kept me hooked. The story itself has so many echos of today's issues, but one that came through was the power of rumour. How a community (set) of people can whip up and escalate these rumours and turn on innocent people without common sense. Twitter and social media are an excellent eample with some truely awful things said by people in a frenzied state.

I felt horror, anger and sympathy for Alice. I felt she beautifully portrayed by the author.

Her appearance on Not Just the Tudors from History Hit podcast. The Witches of Warboys: A Novel Retelling about this book is definitely worth a listen.

Narrated beautifully.

Brilliant and moving

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I got this book over a month ago, and I've been really struggling to finish it. Usually I read 1 book a week, but this one is just too boring, it's a chore to pick it up. I thought I would buy the audible version to help me finish it, which it is...but it doesn't make the book any better. For over 170 or so pages it's the same scenes over and over. I honestly might just return the audio book too now and donate the book to a charity shop. I really wouldn't waste your time with this book like I have.

Repetitive, empty, boring

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Really wanted to like this as it's a favourite genre of mine but I was bored beyond belief ! I listen to alot of audio books while I'm travelling for work but couldn't get away with this at all despite trying to get into it several times. Story and narration was slow , repetitive and frankly boring.
Would of preferred to return it rather than waste my credit.

Nothing!

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