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Falling For the Devil
A novel about the witch hunts and the destructive force of blind, fanatic religion. It is set in Scotland in the first half of 17th century and follows the life of two childhood friends, Elspeth Finnie who grows up to become a brewster like her mother before her, and Enoch Gibb, youngest son of laird Gibb, who, wishing only to serve God, becomes the minister of the parish of Sauchiedale.
Life is hard for the destitute, superstitious population of Scotland, but it is not until the frenzied witch hunts in 1649 - the worst to date - that tragedy occurs in Sauchiedale. King Charles I was been beheaded in London, and in Scotland the jubilant Covenanters' religious zeal knows no bounds. When Elspeth Finnie is falsely accused of having signed a pact with the Devil, and of having procured a human infant for him, both Elspeth and Enoch are forced to choose between their humanity and their God.
Life is hard for the destitute, superstitious population of Scotland, but it is not until the frenzied witch hunts in 1649 - the worst to date - that tragedy occurs in Sauchiedale. King Charles I was been beheaded in London, and in Scotland the jubilant Covenanters' religious zeal knows no bounds. When Elspeth Finnie is falsely accused of having signed a pact with the Devil, and of having procured a human infant for him, both Elspeth and Enoch are forced to choose between their humanity and their God.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 18, 2016
Not only is Falling For the Devil excellent historical fiction, it's one of the best novels I've read in quite a while. The cover art and the title could perhaps have been better chosen -- neither are particularly inspired -- but there's a compelling, heartbreaking story here. Holmstrom transports the reader to the 17th-century Scottish hamlet of Sauchiedale, where three generations of women -- Maig, Elspeth, and Issobel Finnie -- come to life and haunt the reader after the last pages are turned.
My one complaint would be that the chapter titles provide a bit of a spoiler. Not that there's any surprise here, but still wish Holmstrom would have been a little more oblique in this regard.
I highly recommend Falling For the Devil ...
SRW
My one complaint would be that the chapter titles provide a bit of a spoiler. Not that there's any surprise here, but still wish Holmstrom would have been a little more oblique in this regard.
I highly recommend Falling For the Devil ...
SRW
February 20, 2018
A unique account of Scottish misery
A sorrowful account of the misery of life in 1600 Scotland. This book was difficult to get into, with a bit of a sluggish start, but the people grow and develop and the story picks up pace (and interest), the deeper you get. What a sad, depressing time of existence.
A sorrowful account of the misery of life in 1600 Scotland. This book was difficult to get into, with a bit of a sluggish start, but the people grow and develop and the story picks up pace (and interest), the deeper you get. What a sad, depressing time of existence.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews