![]() When it comes to the witch trial itself, though, there's something lacking - Hall skips the harrowing details of the trial itself, which is disappointing given the research that has clearly gone into the historical research for this book. The characters of The Familiars are exceptionally well conceived and the rich historical detail makes this a thoroughly real read. Reeling from this discovery, Fleetwood also learns things about her husband's life outside the home that guides the narrative of the first half of the book. To make things all the more potentially devastating, Fleetwood has discovered a doctor's letter which advises her husband Richard that she will die if there are any more attempts to conceive. ![]() Married at 13 (don't forget this was an everyday reality for early modern women), and three miscarriages later, Fleetwood has enlisted Alice's help to deliver a healthy baby. Drawn from real-life figures, Hall's novel tells the story of Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a 17-year-old pregnant noblewoman who finds herself caught up in the trials when her midwife, Alice Gray, is accused of witchcraft. Magic was used to supress, villainise and even murder women. A fictionalised account of the Pendle witch trials in 17th-century Lancashire, The Familiars is an insightful account of the brutal way women were treated by a patriarchal society heavily influenced by magic and the supernatural. ![]() Stacy Hall's debut novel, The Familiars, casts a spell on the reader. ![]()
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