The Daughters of the Witching Hill

Daughter of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt

Daughters of the Witching Hill      by Mary Sharratt

Author: Mary Sharratt

Length: 357 pages

Release date: April 7, 2010

Content notes: This book is not a YA book, but because of its interesting subject matter and the accurate historic aspects, it will appeal to young adults.

“The quickest thing to turn to hate is love betrayed.”

Brief Synopsis:

This is the story of widow Bess Southerns, “Demdike,” her family, and her friends. Bess gains a reputation as a “healer” by brewing herbs to make medicines while she “cures and blesses” people and or animals. She has a “familiar” named Tibb who helps her heal and sometimes allows her to tell the future. She is called a “cunning woman” and a “blesser.” Bess does not see herself as a witch, because she does not engage in evil activities. She never uses cruel words because she does not want to be accused of cursing anyone. Bess, her family, and friends actually feel that Bess has real “powers.” However, when her granddaughter has angry words with a peddler, and the peddler happens to have a stroke right after, a witch hunt and hysteria ensues.


My thoughts:

Have you heard of the witch trials in Salem? Well the United States is not alone in their savagery toward “witches.” This sort of witch hunt happened in other places as well. In 1612, seven women and two men from Pendle Forest England were hanged as witches. This book tells their story of the 1612 Pendle witch-hunt. When I started reading this book, I had no idea that it was based on real facts. These people really lived and the events described really happened. These people lived in fear due to religious changes/differences among Catholic, Protestant, and people clinging to even older ways of English religion. The danger was real and ever present. And, the characters actually believed that they had powers to heal and make a difference in other people’s lives. The “witches” used Catholic rituals, prayers, and such to “heal and bless,” however older traditions such as “familiars” are woven through their practices. These characters who lived in abject poverty are easy targets of witch hunters, but the main character Bess (Demdike) is so respected and so sought after that she manages to escape scrutiny until she is a very old lady of over 80 years. I like the well-developed characters, and the landscape is so richly described I felt that the author actually lived there. When I read about the author, I found that to be true. I am quick to think about how brutal the society of this time was, but then I wonder what future people will think about us and some of our beliefs and practices.

The setting:

Richly abundant in detail allowing the reader to truly understand how the characters of that time period feel and why they act and react to events. The setting draws the reader in to a world of strength, love, and ignorance.

The characters:

Bess, her beloved family, and her friends (especially Haddox) are interesting and well developed. I am so glad I know these people and their story.

The plot:

The plot is based on real historical facts. It is hard to conceive of the brutal justice of the times, but we need to read this and think about how we humans can and have behaved, and try NOT to repeat such acts against people whose only crime is being different.


There are several reasons to read this book. First, it is well written and interesting. Second, it is an account of a real historical time/event. Third it is only $2.99 for a Kindle electronic version of this book.


If you read this book and have more questions about the history of this book you can also read: The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster by Robert Poole. This book is based on the original trial clerk’s(Thomas Potts) transcript of the trial. I have not read this but I think it would be interesting to know the facts

Also here are some links to some interesting information about the book and about the real facts and speculation of the Pendel witch trials.

Here are some YouTube links about this book and about the historical aspects of these events.

I found them all interesting.

Short talk by Mary Sharratt about her book Click to see Mary Sharratt  as she discusses her book

Short historical speculation about Demdike Click on this for a short historical talk about Demdike

The Pendle Witch child Click here to see a 60 minute BBC account about Jennet and the witch trials