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The Witch cover

The Witch

By Mary Johnston
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About This Book

Set during the waning years of a long-reigning monarch, the narrative traces how communal rumor and fear transform private grief into public accusation when a woman becomes suspected of witchcraft. She endures arrest, trial, and imprisonment amid parish tensions and a plague-haunted countryside, then escapes and embarks on a perilous sea passage that deposits her on a remote isle. Years pass as she confronts isolation, encounters foreign forces, and negotiates survival, while the book moves episodically through courtroom scenes, rural life, maritime peril, and exile to examine superstition, social authority, and the human costs of scapegoating.

About the Author

Johnston, Mary portrait

Mary Johnston

Mary Johnston was an American novelist and suffragist, known for her historical fiction that often explores themes of colonial America and the struggles of women. Her notable works include "Prisoners of Hope: A Tale of Colonial Virginia," which delves into the complexities of life in early Virginia, and "Lewis Rand," a narrative that reflects her interest in the Southern experience. Johnston's writing is characterized by its vivid portrayal of characters and settings, contributing to the literary heritage of the early 20th century. In addition to her novels, she was an advocate for women's rights, making her a significant figure in both literature and social reform.

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