The Witch’s Trinity by Erika Mailman
In “The Witch’s Trinity,” Erika Mailman tells the story of Gude, a confused old woman living with her son and his family in the early 16th century. Gude’s village has been laboring under a famine for quite some time when a friar comes from a nearby town. Almost before Gude knows what has happened, her best friend – the only other woman of her age in the town, as far as I could tell – is being tried and burned for witchcraft. Like her friend, Gude is on the margins of society as those who cannot work are not looked upon with favor during a famine. What’s more, Gude’s son’s wife very much dislikes her. Will Gude be next? What can she do to avoid being burned like her friend?
Mailman’s novel explores witch trials in a way with which most Americans are not terribly familiar. Although we all know about the paranoia and mass hysteria that contributed to accusals of witchcraft, this is frequently obscured by the familiarity of the Salem story. Or perhaps some of us forget that burnings happened other places than Salem. In “The Witch’s Trinity” it is clear how accusations are used to pin certain people – generally those without much societal protection – as scapegoats to ease the suffering of the town. Or, more maliciously, to ease the suffering of the town or certain individuals by being able to steal an accused’s resources, or unburden one’s self of a non-contributing mouth to feed. After that point, the hysteria takes hold and no one is safe.
“The Witch’s Trinity” is quite enjoyable, although I wasn’t really crazy about the ending. However, this was a piece of historical fiction that addressed something I’ve never quite seen addressed before, and I very much appreciated that.
Buy this book from:
Powell’s.
A local independent bookstore via Indiebound.
Amazon.
I’m glad that you finally read this book. What part of the ending didn’t you like specifically – or was it the entire ending?
I found that this book raised so many interesting questions that go beyond witch trials. How do we treat people in society? How do we determine an individual’s worth? How do we determine a group’s worth. It would make for some really good conversations.
.-= Literate Housewife´s last blog ..WE Magazine Woman Blogger to Watch! =-.
That does sound like an interesting take on the witch trials. I hadn’t really thought of it before from the perspective of ridding a town of an unwanted burden – I wonder if it was subconscious or overt?
.-= Alyce´s last blog ..My Favorite Reads – August 6 =-.
I’ve got a couple of books on the witch trials I need to read. I’m putting this on my wish list in case I decide I want to explore the subject more.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Review: Lucky Girl =-.
I think at this point, there could be a witchy reading challenge. (How dare I suggest such a thing???)
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..Random Acts of Heroic Love – Danny Scheinmann =-.
Really enjoyed this one. I loved how thoughtful it was and how it exposed society’s flaws. This is especially relevant for the 16th century, as burning the one witch in the town would have been used to save the rest of them.
.-= Meghan´s last blog ..Review: Every Last Cuckoo, Kate Maloy =-.
I haven’t read a book on the witch trials in a long time. This sounds like a good read.
.-= Nan´s last blog ..Back from a quick visit =-.
I too have a couple of books here on the subject. I like the idea that this book moves beyond Salem.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Review: Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan =-.
What was the “take” on the witch trials that was different? Have you read The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent? These women, accused of being witches, did not live in Salem. You could do some outside research on occasion. It kind of amazes me how you can be oblivious in your reading.
.-= Amy S.´s last blog ..Paper Heart: a film review =-.
Hi, and thanks for the review! I think you’re right, that people tend to get caught up in thinking the Salem witch trials were typical, when in fact they became so well-known specifically because they were so aberrant and such a bizarre phenemenon. The more typical pattern was for (in the U.S.) one or two witches to be tried to be tried at a time, not the mass hysteria that Salem conjures—Europe, of course, being a completely different kettle of fish. I also want to point out that no burnings happened in the U.S.
I love the idea of a “witchy reading challenge” and would be happy to guest post or answer questions.
Erika
Thanks for the review. I have another book to add to my must read pile.
.-= Ryan_G´s last blog ..Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell =-.