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The Burning Time
"A fantastic page-turner."
—Historical Novels Review
Based on a true story of the first witchcraft trial in Ireland, The Burning Time is the riveting tale of one extraordinary noblewoman, Lady Alyce Kyteler and her fight for a country’s soul.
When the Catholic Church brings the Inquisition to Ireland, Lady Alyce Kyteler refuses to grant them power over her lands or her people, and refuses to stop the practice of The Old Religion. Declared a dangerous heretic by the Pope’s emissary, Lady Alyce determines to fight back. Against the penalty of being burned at the stake, she risks all to protect her people, her faith, and her beloved Ireland.
The Burning Time is a vivid account of an astonishing but little-known historic figure and a gripping tale of bravery, treachery, guile, and redemption.
Based on a true story of the first witchcraft trial in Ireland, The Burning Time is the riveting tale of one extraordinary noblewoman, Lady Alyce Kyteler and her fight for a country’s soul.
When the Catholic Church brings the Inquisition to Ireland, Lady Alyce Kyteler refuses to grant them power over her lands or her people, and refuses to stop the practice of The Old Religion. Declared a dangerous heretic by the Pope’s emissary, Lady Alyce determines to fight back. Against the penalty of being burned at the stake, she risks all to protect her people, her faith, and her beloved Ireland.
The Burning Time is a vivid account of an astonishing but little-known historic figure and a gripping tale of bravery, treachery, guile, and redemption.
300 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2006
33 people are currently reading
1022 people want to read
About the author
Robin Morgan
151 books109 followersAn award-winning poet, novelist, political theorist, feminist activist, journalist, editor, and best-selling author, Robin Morgan has published 20 books, including the now-classic anthologies
Sisterhood Is Powerful
(Random House, 1970) and
Sisterhood Is Global
(Doubleday, l984; updated edition, The Feminist Press, 1996); with the recent
Sisterhood Is Forever
(Washington Square Press, 2003). A leader in contemporary US feminism, she has also played an influential role internationally in the women’s movement for more than 25 years.
An invited speaker at every major university in North America, Morgan has traveled — as organizer, lecturer, journalist — across Europe, to Australia, Brazil, the Caribbean, Central America, China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, Pacific Island nations, the Philippines, and South Africa; she has twice (1986 and 1989) spent months in the Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, West Bank, and Gaza, reporting on the conditions of women.
Her books include the novels Dry Your Smile (Doubleday, l987) and The Mer-Child A Legend for Children and Other Adults (Feminist Press, 1991); nonfiction Going Too Far (Random House, 1977), The Word of a Woman (Norton, 1992, 2nd ed. 1994), and The Anatomy of Freedom (Norton, 1994). Her work has been translated into 13 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Sanskrit. Recent books include the poetry anthologies Upstairs in the Garden (1994) and A Hot January (both Norton), as well as the memoir Saturday's Child (Norton, 2000), and her best-selling nonfiction piece The Demon Lover - The Roots of Terrorism (Norton, 1989—2nd ed. with a new introduction and afterword (Washington Square Press, 2001). Her novel on the Inquisition — The Burning Time — was published in 2006 (Melville House), and Fighting Words A Toolkit for Combating the Religious Right in 2006 (Nation Books).
As founder and president of The Sisterhood Is Global Institute and co-founder and board member of The Women’s Media Center, she has co-founded and serves on the boards of many women’s organizations in the US and abroad. In 1990, as editor-in-chief of Ms. magazine, she relaunched the magazine as an international, award-winning, ad-free bimonthly, resigning in late 1993 to become consulting global editor. A recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Prize for poetry, and numerous other honors, she lives in New York City.
An invited speaker at every major university in North America, Morgan has traveled — as organizer, lecturer, journalist — across Europe, to Australia, Brazil, the Caribbean, Central America, China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, Pacific Island nations, the Philippines, and South Africa; she has twice (1986 and 1989) spent months in the Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, West Bank, and Gaza, reporting on the conditions of women.
Her books include the novels Dry Your Smile (Doubleday, l987) and The Mer-Child A Legend for Children and Other Adults (Feminist Press, 1991); nonfiction Going Too Far (Random House, 1977), The Word of a Woman (Norton, 1992, 2nd ed. 1994), and The Anatomy of Freedom (Norton, 1994). Her work has been translated into 13 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Sanskrit. Recent books include the poetry anthologies Upstairs in the Garden (1994) and A Hot January (both Norton), as well as the memoir Saturday's Child (Norton, 2000), and her best-selling nonfiction piece The Demon Lover - The Roots of Terrorism (Norton, 1989—2nd ed. with a new introduction and afterword (Washington Square Press, 2001). Her novel on the Inquisition — The Burning Time — was published in 2006 (Melville House), and Fighting Words A Toolkit for Combating the Religious Right in 2006 (Nation Books).
As founder and president of The Sisterhood Is Global Institute and co-founder and board member of The Women’s Media Center, she has co-founded and serves on the boards of many women’s organizations in the US and abroad. In 1990, as editor-in-chief of Ms. magazine, she relaunched the magazine as an international, award-winning, ad-free bimonthly, resigning in late 1993 to become consulting global editor. A recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Prize for poetry, and numerous other honors, she lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 27, 2010
if alfonso weren't such a douche, this book would have a review.
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he was, he was being a total douche; he said my reviews were "pretentious" because i used words he couldn't find in the dictionary, but then it turned out that the words in question were words i clearly had made up, like "bookas" or "rarrr" - in other words - the opposite of pretentious, like retartastic.(clearly another made-up word - do not go looking for it) so. after being sulky, i forgave him and then i "wrote" this for dana and greg, which may or may not be helpful:
i think you would both like it - no amputations for dana to cringe over, but some burning-alive violence that i don't think will be a problem for you. otherwise, it does a really good job of fleshing out the rituals and beliefs of olde irish wiccan religion and pitting it against (notice i did not say juxtaposing, critics)the bloodless (anemic) catholic replacements. and there's some really good characters, although something unfortunate does happen to a cat.
but now mfso wants a review. that's why all the backstory. so let me try to remember specifics so he can decide whether to read it or not...
you don't hear much about the inquisition in ireland... i don't anyway, in the circles i find myself in... and the book sets up this really great contrast between the ancient ways of worship and these damn catholics and of course everyone could have co-existed in harmony but nooooooo. because, like alfonso that one time, inquisitors are douchebags. and they do not like ladies with power and convictions and with a knowledge of secret herbs and spices that don't relate to chicken-cooking. dunno, mfso, i remember liking it and thinking that the main character could so easily have been annoying, but was written with enough restraint that she came across just right, yeah? you want i should mail it to you?
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he was, he was being a total douche; he said my reviews were "pretentious" because i used words he couldn't find in the dictionary, but then it turned out that the words in question were words i clearly had made up, like "bookas" or "rarrr" - in other words - the opposite of pretentious, like retartastic.(clearly another made-up word - do not go looking for it) so. after being sulky, i forgave him and then i "wrote" this for dana and greg, which may or may not be helpful:
i think you would both like it - no amputations for dana to cringe over, but some burning-alive violence that i don't think will be a problem for you. otherwise, it does a really good job of fleshing out the rituals and beliefs of olde irish wiccan religion and pitting it against (notice i did not say juxtaposing, critics)the bloodless (anemic) catholic replacements. and there's some really good characters, although something unfortunate does happen to a cat.
but now mfso wants a review. that's why all the backstory. so let me try to remember specifics so he can decide whether to read it or not...
you don't hear much about the inquisition in ireland... i don't anyway, in the circles i find myself in... and the book sets up this really great contrast between the ancient ways of worship and these damn catholics and of course everyone could have co-existed in harmony but nooooooo. because, like alfonso that one time, inquisitors are douchebags. and they do not like ladies with power and convictions and with a knowledge of secret herbs and spices that don't relate to chicken-cooking. dunno, mfso, i remember liking it and thinking that the main character could so easily have been annoying, but was written with enough restraint that she came across just right, yeah? you want i should mail it to you?
July 18, 2007
This book receives 4 stars because of the fascinating woman, Alice Kyteler, whose story is told. I wish I knew more about the authenticity of the details of this story, but knowing that she was a historic character who was the first woman accused of witchcraft in Ireland made it all the more interesting.
I cannot give this book 5 stars, however, because the sections of this book in which the pagans practice rituals is so badly written. It's obvious that the author went to a couple of modern Wiccan rituals and wrote down the experiences almost verbatim. What proof does she have that witches in the early medieval times called the quarters, used athames to create sacred space, etc? It all just seemed so very "modern paganism" and totally took me out of the story. Very disappointing.
However, it is definitely worth the read to find out more about the fascinating character of Alice Kyteler, a woman who should stand proudly alongside Grannia O'Malley and Boudica in the ranks of Irish and Celtic women of history who are worthy of admiration.
I cannot give this book 5 stars, however, because the sections of this book in which the pagans practice rituals is so badly written. It's obvious that the author went to a couple of modern Wiccan rituals and wrote down the experiences almost verbatim. What proof does she have that witches in the early medieval times called the quarters, used athames to create sacred space, etc? It all just seemed so very "modern paganism" and totally took me out of the story. Very disappointing.
However, it is definitely worth the read to find out more about the fascinating character of Alice Kyteler, a woman who should stand proudly alongside Grannia O'Malley and Boudica in the ranks of Irish and Celtic women of history who are worthy of admiration.
January 13, 2024
3 stars--I liked the book. A brief and lyrically written novel of pagan vs. Christian. Ultimately you can guess who won.
I especially enjoyed the descriptions of early Irish religion--the ceremonies and holy days, the tips for evading capture, the potions and spells.
I especially enjoyed the descriptions of early Irish religion--the ceremonies and holy days, the tips for evading capture, the potions and spells.
November 22, 2020
I love this book! It's set mainly in Ireland during the Burning Times, otherwise known as the witch craze of Europe. This interpretation of a famous Irish witch, Alyce Keyteler, is delightful, as are her cats' names.
April 18, 2019
This was a quick read, and the bones are based on the story of the first woman to be indicted for witchcraft in Ireland.
I kept getting pulled out of the story, though, because the ritual words were WAY too modern. It seems as if Morgan pulled most of the wording for the rituals from modern Wiccan practice, which is fine, but it needs to be acknowledged that almost all of modern Wiccan practice goes back no further than the 19th century. There may be bits and pieces that are older, but I shouldn't be able to recite along with a text that purports to be 800 years old, based on my experiences with modern witchcraft.
I kept getting pulled out of the story, though, because the ritual words were WAY too modern. It seems as if Morgan pulled most of the wording for the rituals from modern Wiccan practice, which is fine, but it needs to be acknowledged that almost all of modern Wiccan practice goes back no further than the 19th century. There may be bits and pieces that are older, but I shouldn't be able to recite along with a text that purports to be 800 years old, based on my experiences with modern witchcraft.
August 16, 2020
Lady Alyce Kyteler was a noblewoman living in Ireland at a time when the Christian church was enforcing a version of the Inquisition against those natives who still practiced the Old Religion (pagan...what we would consider Wiccan in today's society). She owned her own estate (left to her by her father) and was firm but fair with her workers. This was a feudal period long before the time of workers' rights and nobles were under no compulsion to treat their underlings with any compassion or respect. They lived on the land and led lives of hard work, poor diets and swift and brutal punishment. But Lady Alyce was different. She was firm but fair to her workers and they loved her for it. She was the local pagan priestess and wove celebrations and holidays from this belief regimen into actual practice. But the Pope demanded absolute obedience to his church and he sent a rigid "enforcer" to interrogate, torture, and burn at the stake any heretics in the land. And he was especially livid about possible witches (male & female) that he could find and arrest.
A tale of a strong, independent woman who felt she could take on all attacks against her and her people because she was wealthy and had a high standing in the land. But her own hubris would cause problems that became worse as time went by. It wasn't just Christians vs pagans, but also female against male. And we know how that story has played out in the time since then!
A tale of a strong, independent woman who felt she could take on all attacks against her and her people because she was wealthy and had a high standing in the land. But her own hubris would cause problems that became worse as time went by. It wasn't just Christians vs pagans, but also female against male. And we know how that story has played out in the time since then!
October 21, 2010
It has been quite a while since I have picked up a book that I could not put down again. This was one. So much that I finished it in three days and was left with a literary high at the end.
I picked it up at the bookstore and was instantly intrigued when I read that it covered a part of history rarely talked about, written about or taught. After reading it, it proved to be a part of world history I had not heard much about. And the story is one that is painfully beautiful.
It is a story that should be told and re-told. Even if you are not quite the historical fiction junky that I claim to be, you may still find this story breath-taking, moving, and intriguing as well. For anyone who has a curiosity for the Pagan way and shares a tiny corner of the soap box about the persecution women have had to endure by the church for centuries...then read and love this story as I have!
I picked it up at the bookstore and was instantly intrigued when I read that it covered a part of history rarely talked about, written about or taught. After reading it, it proved to be a part of world history I had not heard much about. And the story is one that is painfully beautiful.
It is a story that should be told and re-told. Even if you are not quite the historical fiction junky that I claim to be, you may still find this story breath-taking, moving, and intriguing as well. For anyone who has a curiosity for the Pagan way and shares a tiny corner of the soap box about the persecution women have had to endure by the church for centuries...then read and love this story as I have!
July 27, 2012
I don't know what to think of this book. First, I was bored, then it got me, then I was lost, then it got me again...then it got real good, and then I sat there going what?
I think all and all - I just didn't get it. I understand the history behind the story, but not the story. Well, that sentence made as much sense as the book.
I think all and all - I just didn't get it. I understand the history behind the story, but not the story. Well, that sentence made as much sense as the book.
April 4, 2019
This is the story of Lady Alyce Kyteler, an Irish noblewoman who struggled to save her people and the Old Ways from the Inquisition which made its way to Ireland in the early 14th Century thanks to a vicious priest who hated and feared both her and the Old Ways. He eventually managed to have her accused of witchcraft, forcing her to flee with as many of her people as she could. Not all of them managed to escape, however, and one woman, Petronilla de Meath, had the dubious distinction of becoming the first to be burned at the stake in Ireland or Great Britain for heresy. This is based on a true story, making it all the more horrifying. The author also claims that the songs, spells, and chants she wrote into the ceremonies were from actual historical documents. It all makes for a fascinating book!
January 15, 2024
This novel focuses on a real woman - Lady Alyce Kyteler, who was accused of witchcraft in medieval Ireland - and builds a compelling story. Alyce is a confident woman who verbally duels with Church officials and is prepared to go further still to defend the people in her life. She's a refreshing character to have in a novel set during the Middle Ages and this helped make this book a quick read for me. While I've a few questions about some historical points, I really liked this novel overall and would highly recommend it.
June 2, 2010
I'm not a big fan of historical fiction, but Robin Morgan's well-researched novel about the Inquisition's arrival in Ireland fills a huge gap in our understanding of the clash between traditional spiritual beliefs and the capital C church. Just as interesting are Morgan's notes at the end of the novel in which she clearly indicates how she gathered information and which bits were fictionalized. She also includes facts about the surprising number of women and children executed in Europe as heretics.
What I find most appealing about Morgan's characters is that she embraces their complexities. Alyce Kyteler, the noblewoman charged with heresy, is very likable, yet Morgan does not fail to show just how arrogant Kyteler is, having been raised with financial freedom and power. Indeed, Alyce has many lessons to learn. Likewise, Alyce's servant Petronilla de Meath is also a mass of contradictions as she moves between allegiances to the Church and The Craft.
I loved Alyce's and Petronilla's stories. I also really enjoyed the way Morgan so clearly illustrated the connection between Alyce and the land that she loved and its animals. It is rare to find an author who can write about animals in a way that expresses the fullness of their characters without trivializing or anthropomorphizing them to death.
What I find most appealing about Morgan's characters is that she embraces their complexities. Alyce Kyteler, the noblewoman charged with heresy, is very likable, yet Morgan does not fail to show just how arrogant Kyteler is, having been raised with financial freedom and power. Indeed, Alyce has many lessons to learn. Likewise, Alyce's servant Petronilla de Meath is also a mass of contradictions as she moves between allegiances to the Church and The Craft.
I loved Alyce's and Petronilla's stories. I also really enjoyed the way Morgan so clearly illustrated the connection between Alyce and the land that she loved and its animals. It is rare to find an author who can write about animals in a way that expresses the fullness of their characters without trivializing or anthropomorphizing them to death.
April 25, 2015
The Burning Time by Robin Morgan is a gripping tale of the age of Inquisition in Europe, set in the land of Ireland. The basis of the book is a well known case of witchcraft in Ireland, based on Alyce Kyteler. The real life of Alyce is one of which we know in real life as not one rich in detail, but the points that are missing, author Robin Morgan fills in great detail. Morgan pulls on modern witchcraft and Wiccan rituals to create some spellbinding scenes in the book, and creates an eccentric heroine and feminist who was ahead of her time. The Catholic church in this book is the enemy, out to get those who are steeped in the tradition of Wicca. I could not put this book down once I picked it up, and highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in a period of history that few know about.
October 14, 2016
I ended up liking this book more than I thought I would when I started. It starts in such a way that I thought I would know exactly how it would end (disclaimer, I didn't know anything about the true story behind this). I thought to myself, it's clear who the bad guys are and who the good guys are, so I assumed it would follow the same plot lines that a lot of other similar books follow. But it didn't, it really surprised me. There were a few times that I skimmed, usually when I felt there was too much detail or when there was a long song, but the rest of it interested me fully. If you start this book and you're not too sure about continuing it, give it a little more time. It's a very short book, after all, but it does start off a little slow and quite different from the rest of the book. Give it a chance. I doubt you'll regret it.
January 26, 2015
Don't Expect Accuracy
I almost stopped reading early when it was stated Roman roads were in Ireland, a blatant inaccuracy. Sure the book is fiction, but based on the story of Alice Kyteler, Ireland's first accused witch, I expect historical accuracy for simple facts. I did however learn some interesting truths and the story line was good.
I almost stopped reading early when it was stated Roman roads were in Ireland, a blatant inaccuracy. Sure the book is fiction, but based on the story of Alice Kyteler, Ireland's first accused witch, I expect historical accuracy for simple facts. I did however learn some interesting truths and the story line was good.
June 26, 2008
Its official, I don't like feminist lit.
April 8, 2020
I’ll admit it: I picked up this book because it was published by Melville House (I like them) and because I share a name with the protagonist, which was a first for me and pretty charming.
It turned out to be a beautiful historical novel. I recommend it to anyone interested in a time in Ireland’s history long before strict Christianity was the default there— before Ireland’s indigenous Wiccan traditions were colonized away.
The Burning Time deals with the misogyny of the witch trials perpetuated by the Catholic Church during their long and violent Inquisition.
It deals with holding on tightly to forbidden tradition and passing it on, even in secrecy, in order to keep one’s heart (and one’s people) alive. I couldn’t help but relate this idea to my Judaism, as my Jewish ancestors fled Spain to Portugal (and then Portugal to Holland) for the same reasons and from the same persecutors just a century after Alyce Kyteler fled Ireland.
It turned out to be a beautiful historical novel. I recommend it to anyone interested in a time in Ireland’s history long before strict Christianity was the default there— before Ireland’s indigenous Wiccan traditions were colonized away.
The Burning Time deals with the misogyny of the witch trials perpetuated by the Catholic Church during their long and violent Inquisition.
It deals with holding on tightly to forbidden tradition and passing it on, even in secrecy, in order to keep one’s heart (and one’s people) alive. I couldn’t help but relate this idea to my Judaism, as my Jewish ancestors fled Spain to Portugal (and then Portugal to Holland) for the same reasons and from the same persecutors just a century after Alyce Kyteler fled Ireland.
March 25, 2018
I came into this one blind, just looking for something to read at random, and I left pretty emotional. There were parts of this that didn’t hold my attention as much as others but overall I loved the flow of the story. I don’t know much on the subject of witch trials but the facts presented felt well researched to me and this wasn’t written to the point that it seemed too bogged down in fact. To the contrary I think taking the fictional approach was what got me immersed in the setting and had me emotionally tied to the trials and decisions these characters were forced to make. Overall pretty enjoyable read.
May 13, 2021
I went into this expecting something slightly dry because it's based in history, and ended up with something completely different (and better.)
Coming from a standpoint of someone who left the church a long time ago, this book strikes home on levels I didn't predict. At first I hated the bishop, and then by the end I loved his scenes because they were such a perfect description of men of the church and the church's entitlement to what they see as theirs.
I thought I'd love Alyce the most, and ended up thoroughly loving the other characters more. The entire group as one is almost a character in itself.
Coming from a standpoint of someone who left the church a long time ago, this book strikes home on levels I didn't predict. At first I hated the bishop, and then by the end I loved his scenes because they were such a perfect description of men of the church and the church's entitlement to what they see as theirs.
I thought I'd love Alyce the most, and ended up thoroughly loving the other characters more. The entire group as one is almost a character in itself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2021
Riveting, infuriating, moving. And the writing craft itself is incredibly beautiful & poetic.
My one minor critique is that it's almost *too* poetic in places—it feels just a tad overdone & overly nostalgic/saccharine sometimes, and some of the dialogue not quite believable. But this is very forgivable. Overall, an excellent novel.
My one minor critique is that it's almost *too* poetic in places—it feels just a tad overdone & overly nostalgic/saccharine sometimes, and some of the dialogue not quite believable. But this is very forgivable. Overall, an excellent novel.
March 8, 2025
This is a reasonably enjoyable book although it is let down by a blatant lack of research into the history of the case as it is replete with all sorts of historical inaccuracies. The dialogue is fun though and the main characters are well-drawn.
March 17, 2017
Excellent book that tells of the time when there was a clash of religions in Ireland. The Catholic church
January 2, 2018
Interesting and shocking that this is based on facts. It is very relevant in our current climate.
June 21, 2021
Fun read.
May 4, 2023
A stunning account of the Inquisition in Ireland in the fourteenth century!
October 27, 2024
Sadly this book was not for me. I will say that it was well written and informative yet I just couldn’t get into it.
October 30, 2025
Important work of historical fiction and an incredible story of survival and courage. I will always remember Petronilla de Meath.
December 1, 2024
Beautifully written and heart felt portrayal of the historical fact of the horribly tragic Burning Time. The book engages the reader through the “three elements always found in witch persecutions”: the attempt to colonize, demonize, and eradicate indigenous belief systems; economic motive; and the obvious and horrific misogyny. Although 400-900 years ago, it’s hard to not mirror the continuity of the White, Christian believe system on Indigenous beliefs and women today. Developing strong emotional ties to the heroins and characters in this book helps the history lesson become much more interesting. Highly recommend!
November 8, 2012
Author Robin Morgan is a well known international feminist. In The Burning Time, her first work of fiction, she draws upon medieval court records to relate the life of Lady Alyce Kyteler, the unconventional mistress of Kyteler Manor near Kilkenny, Ireland. During the 14th century, Christianity was accepted by the Irish, but many of them blended their new religion with aspects of the old "pagan" earth religious traditions. The pope sent an emissary, Bishop Richard Ledrede, to Ireland with the mission of rooting out and punishing heretics.
Lady Alyce was a woman ahead of her time, one who flouted the pretensions of nobility. Alyce treated her serfs with dignity, developed her skills as a healer, followed the ancient calendar, and led celebrations of holidays such as Lammas and Samhain. When Ledrede visited her offering to restore her to the church and save her soul, she strongly rebuffed him. Although Alyce marshalled assistance from her influential relatives, Ledrede was able to bring charges of witchcraft against her.
This plot should/could have been a compelling one, but Morgan spoils things by turning her novel into a polemic with dialogue. Alyce is portrayed as a sort of Joan of Arc, and her serfs, who play a relatively large role here, are worshipfully enthralled with her. As for Ledrede, he comes across as the ultimate misogynist bigot who takes out his resentment over being sent to this backwater upon his victims.
What I found most annoying was the frequent use of the term Wiccan, the use of which has not been documented to before the early 20th century. I did finish this book because I wanted to know the outcome, but in places, I had to roll my eyes....
Lady Alyce was a woman ahead of her time, one who flouted the pretensions of nobility. Alyce treated her serfs with dignity, developed her skills as a healer, followed the ancient calendar, and led celebrations of holidays such as Lammas and Samhain. When Ledrede visited her offering to restore her to the church and save her soul, she strongly rebuffed him. Although Alyce marshalled assistance from her influential relatives, Ledrede was able to bring charges of witchcraft against her.
This plot should/could have been a compelling one, but Morgan spoils things by turning her novel into a polemic with dialogue. Alyce is portrayed as a sort of Joan of Arc, and her serfs, who play a relatively large role here, are worshipfully enthralled with her. As for Ledrede, he comes across as the ultimate misogynist bigot who takes out his resentment over being sent to this backwater upon his victims.
What I found most annoying was the frequent use of the term Wiccan, the use of which has not been documented to before the early 20th century. I did finish this book because I wanted to know the outcome, but in places, I had to roll my eyes....
May 9, 2013
I got this e-book from the library, knowing nothing about what the subject was. I knew it was historical fiction but the main reason I got the book was because of the author, Robin Morgan. Ms. Morgan is one of the best known feminist writers, especially known for her ground breaking anthology, Sisterhood Is Powerful. I still have my copy of this book as it really talks to what women felt in the 70's. She also wrote many wonderful essays and a complete series of mystery books, none of which I read. I had trouble getting into the book which is about the Inquisition of women in Ireland, those who did not abide by Church teachings and practiced their own religion which was called witchcraft. Once I get past the descriptions of what life was like for them and their rituals in the 12 century, I got much more interested. I didn't know that it was based on true facts and a very brave woman and group of people. I found that out at the end. But the unsettling part is that although the causes and the effects might have been more severe, this also shows how attitudes toward women are still not much different in many ways. An example today is the verbal battering Republican men are giving Hillary Clinton and spreading all kinds of lies because they fear she will run for President - and win. Not much different in thought than the war against the "witches" which was, for the most part, the war against women.
June 2, 2012
A good read, but especially a reminder/informer for what the Inquisition was really like, what it meant on a personal level. Morgan is a long-time feminist thinker & writer, steeped in herbal knowledge and historical interests. In the context of a good historical novel about 14th century Ireland (that is NOT a bodice ripper), she pulls in threads many of us are familiar with but that are not usually in novels. When was the last time a novel reminded me that a major cause of the plague in Europe was that during the Inquisition, millions of cats were killed as "familiars", leaving towns with phenomenal rat populations that intensified the spread of the plague?
But it is a novel first, with strong women characters from different classes, with the book's real hero/ine arising unexpectedly. We all find our strengths and our challenges in different places and in different times.
But it is a novel first, with strong women characters from different classes, with the book's real hero/ine arising unexpectedly. We all find our strengths and our challenges in different places and in different times.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews