Overview

England, 1649. A vengeful witchunter. An innocent healer accused of witchcraft. Can she escape the hangman's noose? Widdershins is told through the eyes of a young woman accused of witchcraft and the witchfinder who condemns her to death. From his father's beatings to his uncle's raging sermons, the orphaned John Sharpe is beset by bad fortune. Fighting through personal tragedy, he finds his purpose: to become a witchfinder and save innocents from the scourge of witchcraft. Jane Chandler is an apprentice midwife. From childhood, she has used herbs to heal poor women and children. But Jane's life is at risk when Puritan lawmakers hire John Sharpe to cleanse the town of witches. When Jane visits the apothecary to trade herbs, she finds herself accused of witchcraft. On trial for her life, can she prove her innocence and escape the hangman's noose? In an English town gripped by superstition and fear, two destinies collide in this absorbing historical novel based on true events. Widdershins is inspired by the little-known 1650 Newcastle witch trials, where fifteen women and one man were hanged as witches on a single day in England. Recommended for fans of The Familiars, The Witchfinder's Sister, The Manningtree Witches, Cunning Women, A Secret History of Witches, The Daylight Gate, Dark Tides, Tidelands, Dawnlands, Burial Rites or The Crucible.

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9781739776275

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Reviews

'A compelling tale of two young people whose destinies are intertwined, a witch-hunter and a witch. But is she really a witch? This meticulously researched account of a bigoted man's inhumanity to women in the seventeenth century will make the modern reader grateful to have been born in an enlightened age.' Mari Griffith, The Witch of Eye 'Widdershins gives a compelling and nuanced account of the clash of cultures that claimed so many lives. Steadman's carefully interwoven narrative conjures a world of herbal lore, folk practice and belief and convincingly portrays the psychological and ideological forces that form a perpetrator, and the social structures that sustain him.' Helen Lynch, Tea for the Rent Boy 'Helen's writing has a... persuasive and empathetic force, weaving together historical fact with modern concerns about the treatment of women.' Helen Marshall, The Migration ' Widdershins is a dark and wonderful novel, rich in historical details, herbal lore, traditions and superstitions. Steadman's clear-eyed storytelling and colourful period voice give life to a vibrant cast of characters drawn against the backdrop of tragic historical events. A compelling and memorable tale!' Louisa Morgan, A Secret History of Witches 'Infused as it is with aromas of rosemary, fennel and lavender, even the healers' herbs do not mask the reek of the injustice that sits at the heart of Widdershins. Powerful and shocking.' Wyl Menmuir, The Many 'Impeccably written, full of herbal lore and the clash of ignorance and prejudice against common sense, as well as the abounding beauty of nature, it made for a great read. There are plenty of books, both fact and fiction, available about the witch-trial era, but not only did I not know about such trials in Newcastle, I have not read a novel that so painstakingly and vividly evokes both the fear and joy of living at that time.' Sally Zigmond, Historical Novel Society 'A very easy book to read, full of great imagery that vividly conjures up the historical setting.' Alex Clare, He's Gone 'This is an emotional and uncomfortable read, which frankly made my feminist blood boil. Inspired by the Newcastle witch trials of 1650, it powerfully challenges our lingering, stereotypical views of witchcraft.' Lisa Botwright, Optima Magazine 'Written beautifully, and meticulously researched, not just in facts and great atmosphere of the historical period, but also in vernacular language, as well as in the lore of healers and herbalists of the time, the book makes for an unforgettable, fascinating read. Highly recommended.' Susana Aikin, The Weight of the Heart 'The characters are by turns engaging and enraging, and the whole thing really puts you there, in time and place; it's impossible not to get emotionally caught up and then put through the wringer by the fate of the victims of these show trials.' Ted Curtis, The Darkening Light

Author Information

Dr Helen Steadman is a historical novelist. Her first novel, Widdershins and its sequel, Sunwise were inspired by the seventeenth-century Newcastle witch trials. Her third novel, The Running Wolf was inspired by the Shotley Bridge swordmakers, who defected from Solingen, Germany in 1687. Helen's fourth novel will be published on 13 September 2022. This is God of Fire, a Greek myth retelling about Hephaestus, possibly the least well-known of the Olympians. Helen is now working on her fifth novel.Despite the Newcastle witch trials being one of the largest mass executions of witches on a single day in England, they are not widely known about. Helen is particularly interested in revealing hidden histories and she is a thorough researcher who goes to great lengths in pursuit of historical accuracy. To get under the skin of the cunning women in Widdershins and Sunwise, Helen trained in herbalism and learned how to identify, grow and harvest plants and then made herbal medicines from bark, seeds, flowers and berries.The Running Wolf is the story of a group of master swordmakers who defected from Solingen, Germany and moved to Shotley Bridge, England in 1687. As well as carrying out in-depth archive research and visiting forges in Solingen to bring her story to life, Helen also undertook blacksmith training, which culminated in making her own sword. During her archive research, Helen uncovered a lot of new material and she published her findings in the Northern History journal.

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