I’ve read several novels about English witch trials in the 16th and 17th centuries, most recently The Bewitching by Jill Dawson, and I wondered whether this one – The Witching Tide, Margaret Meyer’s debut novel – would have anything new to offer. I’m pleased to say that although there are some obvious similarities with the other books I’ve read, this book also explores some different elements and ideas so was definitely worth reading.
The novel is set in 1645 in the small coastal village of Cleftwater, East Anglia. Martha Hallybread is a servant in the household of Kit Crozier, whom she nursed as a child. Martha has never married herself, choosing instead to devote her life to Kit and his family, as well as serving as the village midwife and healer. When the witchfinder Master Makepeace arrives in Cleftwater, Martha fears that she could become a target, particularly if anyone discovers her secret ‘poppet’, a wax doll inherited from her mother. However, a twist comes very early in the novel when Martha avoids being rounded up with the other suspected witches – and finds herself one of several women enlisted by the witchfinder as assistants.
Most books focus on the misogyny behind the witch hunts, but The Witching Tide reminds us that there were also women involved in condemning their fellow women. Some of them may have really believed they were cleansing their towns and villages of witchcraft, others probably just thought it was the best way to avoid falling under suspicion themselves; in Martha’s case, she hopes that her position will allow her to bring some comfort to the women awaiting trial and find a way to prove they are innocent.
Another thing that makes Martha an unusual protagonist is the fact that she is mute – and yet this is the aspect of the book I found least successful. Margaret Meyer has said that Martha’s lack of speech is intended to represent the way in which the ‘witches’ were silenced, denied a voice and prevented from defending themselves against their accusers, but although this is a clever idea, I felt that Martha made herself understood too easily, expressing complex ideas and sentences through gestures so that even strangers seemed to know what she meant. I could see what the author was trying to do, but I wasn’t completely convinced.
Martha’s story is fictional, but inspired by the real life East Anglian witch hunts of 1645-47 and the imaginary Cleftwater is loosely based on Aldeburgh, Suffolk, the location of one of the hunts. Knowing that real people experienced the things Martha and her friends went through makes the book even more meaningful.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group/Phoenix for providing a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
This is book 7/20 of my 20 Books of Summer 2023
This is book 28/50 for the 2023 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.
She Reads Novels 
I’m often interested in the history of the witch trials, since I live not so very far from the Pendle Witches’ stamping grounds, and despite your reservations, this looks an interesting take on these rather shocking chapters of our history. I often wonder where I’d have stood in the discussions that doubtless raged when the community felt it had witches in its midst.
Yes, this book gives a slightly different perspective on the witch trials than other books I’ve read. It’s interesting to think about what our own reaction would have been!
You should write a topic about all the witch trial novels you have read and tell us which are the best ones.
I did a Top Ten Tuesday list in 2018, but have read more since then so should probably do an updated one.
Oh, I probably read it at the time. Thanks!
Interesting… I’ve had a long interest in all things witchcraft/magic related so I’ll keep a look out for this one when it drops in paperback.
Witch trials seem to be a popular subject for historical fiction at the moment. This one is worth looking out for.
Sounds a bit like “What’s wrong, Skippy? Sonny’s down the well?” 😉 Otherwise it does sound interesting, especially since I suspect women are quite often at least as misogynistic as men!
Yes, that’s exactly what it’s like! I had expected her to have a lot more trouble communicating but everyone just seemed to understand almost immediately.
Having a character that’s mute would be tricky. If she’s still able to communicate everything so well and so easily, then what’s the point of not having her just speak?
There didn’t seem to be much point at all. I think it was a good idea that just didn’t work very well.
Thanks for sharing your review with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge!
So, I just looked back at your blog this far, and this is the last post I can remember getting an email from your blog about. I have a lot of catching up to do.