Hour of the Witch
Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian is a riveting historical fiction book which features the tragedies of a young abused wife, Mary, in Puritan New England in 1662. I love picking up a book by Bohjalian, because I know I’m going to learn something important about history and culture. This book is no different, and I walked away with so much more knowledge.
Boston, 1662. Mary Deerfield is twenty-four-years-old. Her skin is porcelain, her eyes delft blue, and in England she might have had many suitors. But here in the New World, amid this community of saints, Mary is the second wife of Thomas Deerfield, a man as cruel as he is powerful. When Thomas, prone to drunken rage, drives a three-tined fork into the back of Mary's hand, she resolves that she must divorce him to save her life.
But in a world where every neighbor is watching for signs of the devil, a woman like Mary--a woman who harbors secret desires and finds it difficult to tolerate the brazen hypocrisy of so many men in the colony--soon finds herself the object of suspicion and rumor.
When tainted objects are discovered buried in Mary's garden, when a boy she has treated with herbs and simples dies, and when their servant girl runs screaming in fright from her home, Mary must fight to not only escape her marriage, but also the gallows.
From the very first paragraph, I was transported into life on the outskirts of Boston in 1662, The story is told in first person and I immediately realized Bohjalian is spot on in his characterization of Mary as a young Puritan woman - The cadence of her speech, daily activities, and inner thoughts are perfectly believable for this time period. He is masterful at weaving this passage of time and location.
These characters were so very real! I learned so much, but more importantly I was inspired by their strength and will to survive. The many who were unjustly accused in this time period deserve to be recognized and honored, and this book is a wonderful tribute to their legacy. Their strength and determination should never ever be forgotten.
As always, Bohjalian puts so much effort into his research and brings you into regimented life, lack of options, and the horrors of living in this time. It highlights the biased court system which is all to eager to falsely convict.
Overall, I loved every minute of of this sinister story, and did not want it to end. I was drawn in and kept guessing all the way to the end, and those are my favorite types of books! Those who love Bohjalian will be enthralled yet again by his masterful storytelling.
