A review by weneedtotalkaboutbooks
The Bewitching by Jill Dawson

3.5

 

An emotional novel that speaks to our times, drawing on the 16th-century case of the witches of Warboys. 

 

💬 "She'd speak her mind no matter what cost, and in a woman that's lamentable." 

 

The Bewitching is a fascinating, slow-burn historical novel based on true events. 

 

It’s clear that the author has done a lot of research into the subject of witch trials. There is a vivid sense of realism to the narration, that makes you forget you aren’t actually living in the 16th century while reading. 

 

We experience the story from the point of view of Martha, a servant, a complex character in conflict with her beliefs, while she witness the events that occur around her. 

The ultimate question that we are asking ourselves while reading is: will Martha act, do anything to stop the events from happening? 

 

The bewitching is, at his core, a reflection on the role of women in society, the power of fear, superstition, misogyny, and the toxic, oppressive influence of the patriarchy. 

 

💬 “And he suddenly saw the ludicrousness of the notion that one human being was better than another, of the belief that a title […] and a subsequent accident of birth made one man more deserving respect than another. There was insanity in that concept and in the fact that it was so readily accepted by an immoral world.” 

 

In conclusion, I’d recommend The bewitching to anyone interested in exploring the reality of witches trial, the brutal tribalism that can erupt in a closed society, and the conversations around gender gap still very relevant to this day. 

 

This would also make a good pick for a book club.