The discovery of witchcraft is a significant and controversial topic in history. It refers to the belief in witches and the subsequent persecution and trials of individuals accused of witchcraft. This phenomenon was most prominent in Europe during the late medieval and early modern periods. Belief in witches dates back to ancient times, with various cultures attributing supernatural powers and malevolent intentions to certain individuals. However, the widespread hysteria and persecution of alleged witches began in the 15th century and reached its peak in the 16th and 17th centuries. The belief in witchcraft was fueled by a combination of religious, social, and political factors.
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If you re familiar with the film Practical Magic then you may remember that phrase being hurled along with rocks at the Owens sisters in the beginning of the film. But I feel if I don t have that balance, and I completely call myself a feminist I am cheating my own self, my own soul, for what I can be as a whole.
The belief in witchcraft was fueled by a combination of religious, social, and political factors. During this time, Europe was undergoing significant religious upheaval, with the Protestant Reformation challenging the authority of the Catholic Church. As a result, religious tensions were high, and witchcraft became associated with heresy and devil worship.
Review: A Discovery of Witches
I’ve always enjoyed fantasy books, and every now and then I have a craving for vampires–they’re such tortured souls. Immortality, apparently, can be burdensome. I found Deborah Harkness’ A Discovery of Witches at my library recently, and although it turned out not at all as I’d expected, I realized pretty quickly that I was in it for the long haul. (This is the first book in the All Souls Trilogy, each volume hovering just under 600 pages.)
“It begins with absence and desire…It begins with blood and fear. It begins with a discovery of witches.“
About the book: Diana Bishop is a historian. She’s also a witch. Her parents–more witches–died brutally when she was seven, an event which convinced her of the dangers of magic, and prompted her to abandon hers. As an adult witch pretending to be human, she’s researching old alchemical texts for a keynote speech in Oxford, resisting the urge to use her buried sixth sense to learn more about the ancient manuscripts she studies. But she stumbles upon one volume that practically drips magic from its seams–and in handling it, she moves one of the biggest mysteries of her world into focus. As a horde of “creatures” flock to the library–and ultimately to Diana–to learn more about the book and gain access for themselves, her lack of control over her magic becomes a problem and she’s thrust into danger she doesn’t understand and can’t fight. The first vampire on the scene, Matthew Clairmont, understands better than everyone else that to open the ancient, lost book means protecting Diana–the only person who’s been able to access it in centuries. Love between species is forbidden by law, but something much more ancient and inevitable is at work with Matthew and Diana. The unlikely pair must find answers in each other, as the world around them crackles with erupting secrets and the first signs of war between the species emerge.
About the layout: Diana, our main character, narrates most of this book’s chapters in the first person. There are also a few chapters woven in that feature third person narration and move around between focus on different characters–usually Matthew, but not always. There’s always more to his story than what he shows on the surface, which makes him compelling to read, though Diana’s lack of magical knowledge makes her a better guide for the reader through the discoveries of this first book.
“Marcus knew that a vampire’s life was measured not in hours or years but in secrets revealed and kept. Vampires guarded their personal relationships, the names they’d adopted, and the details of the many lives they’d lived.”
A large portion of this book seems highly concentrated on vampires and their role within this world, even though our main character is a witch. There are four branches of “creatures,” as they’re referred to, in this trilogy: humans, vampires, witches, and daemons. They all make appearances throughout the text, but without doubt there’s more information on vampires and their habits and current standing in this world than any of the other species. Eventually, as the reader knows she must, Diana stops trying to deny that she’s a witch and the vampire stories are mixed with details of how witch magic works and how it pertains to Diana. But it’s worth noting that this is a vampire-heavy novel. I think it comes down to Matthew and Diana’s relationship–from the very beginning, she makes concessions for all his odd behaviors because he’s a vampire and he’s been that way for a long time, while she’s planted herself between a witch’s life and a human one, which leaves her on uncertain ground. Thus, we see a lot more of her emotions and her acclimating to the presence of a vampire than anything witchy because it takes so long for her to commit to being a witch at all. And while she’s not learning about being a witch, she’s asking Matthew questions about vampirism, and the focus of the book is often pointed in that direction. Luckily, Matthew’s lived enough years that his vampire secrets are interesting.
“I wasn’t the same creature then, and I wouldn’t entirely trust my past selves with you.”
On romance: love between Matthew and Diana is not one of this book’s surprises, and it’s something I wish I had known before reading. I went looking for a fantasy book, but through hundreds of pages I found myself wondering whether the novel was a romance disguised as fantasy. There’s definitely fantasy, but it generally comes second, and the romance is immediately, utterly obvious. From the very beginning, the narration is clear on what’s building between our two main characters. Diana is startled and mildly frightened at being addressed by a vampire (seemingly the most dangerous of the four species), but she takes the time to note that he’s unbelievably handsome. He invites her to dinner and hints that he might see her around Oxford in that creepy vampire way that indicates he’ll probably be stalking her and creating “coincidental” meetings between them. The first time the narration focuses on him, he admits that he’s intrigued by Diana and he wants to stay close to her, but he absolutely definitely is not in love with her. These details (and many, many more) indicate that there’s going to be romantic intrigue here. If you don’t want to read a romance, this isn’t the fantasy book for you. That said, there’s not much sexual detail in this romance, it’s almost entirely gestures and looks and conversations, so it’s not raunchy in the way I would expect of a true romance, either.
Some things I didn’t like:
- There’s way more description of meals and teas and wines than necessary.
- Diana is sometimes okay with being ordered around and stalked and otherwise controlled by Matthew because she loves him.
- For someone who claims not to be (and is also told by Matthew that she is not) a damsel in distress, Diana requires a lot of rescuing.
- For a witch, even one who doesn’t want to use her power, Diana knows remarkably little about the “creatures” of her world.
- Everyone is concerned about or in awe of Diana’s super magical witch powers, but she can’t use/control them. There’s an imbalance in the attention and the worthiness of attention.
- Completely coincidentally, Diana finds a new abilities she can’t harness but can use for some emergency just at the time when she needs them.
Hence, I admit to problematic elements–mostly in Matthew and Diana’s relationship, in which Matthew wants all the power. But other than all the description of food/beverages, the narration does make attempts to explain most of the problematic areas, and I was left with the impression that some of these things might be fixed in the upcoming novels of the trilogy. I believe this is a series that demands to be read in full, if you’re determined to start at all.
My reaction: 4 out of 5 stars. I’ll admit this trilogy is 100% a guilty pleasure. Romances are often guilty pleasures for me because I don’t read them for the reasons I usually read other books. This one repeatedly gave me the impression: “Twilight on steroids” a few times, which was worrisome, but the story kept me engaged regardless. I’m committed to finishing the trilogy because I think some of the issues I had will be addressed going forward, and I’m curious about where the plot is going, since there are many mysterious threads and a lack of answers in this first book.
- Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander is the first (long) book in a (long) series that’s similar to A Discovery of Witches in that it’s a mix of fantasy/sci-fi and historical fiction. And romance, of course. An intense but challenging romance that’s very similar (minus the vampirism) to Matthew and Diana’s relationship.
What’s next: I’m currently reading White Fur by Jardine Libaire, one of my Book of the Month Club choices from their June selections. After nearly 600 pages of adult fantasy I’m ready for some lit fic. This one’s a (steamy for summer) star-crossed romance set in 1980’s New York.
What are you reading to kick off the summer?
The Literary Elephant
Update: You can now read my review of the next book in this series, Shadow of Night!
This copy has been rebound in brown half leather (which is rather rubbed and worn) with five raised bands to the spine. A note at the rear of the volume states that the rebinding took place in March 1949 by JDD. The binding has a slightly homemade feel to it-the idea was clearly to make the book look older, which has certainly been achieved (some of the cords beneath the raised bands are showing through). There are a couple of previous private ownership inscriptions at the beginning of the book, and the square white title label (originally on the upper cover of the book, I think) has been pasted onto the second front free endpaper. There is some quite marked foxing to the opening and closing pages, with lighter foxing throughout. Despite the wear to the binding on the spine, the hinges remain sound and secure and the book is not falling apart. Overall, a copy rebound in 1949 to give the book a much older feel, with some wear to the brown leather (on both the spine and corners) and some foxing, particularly at the beginning and end of the book, with two previous private ownership names (the one on the front free endpaper is in black fountain pen in rather large letters). 61 numbered pages. This slim volume (which measures just over eight and a half inches by seven) will be properly packed. Seller Inventory # ABE-1639315066211
Furthermore, societal fears and anxieties played a role in the belief in witchcraft. The hardships and uncertainties of daily life, such as disease, famine, and economic instability, led people to seek explanations for their misfortunes. The idea that witches were responsible for these troubles provided a convenient scapegoat and gave a sense of control over these unpredictable events. The discovery of witchcraft was driven by a combination of superstitious beliefs, misinformation, and mass hysteria. The alleged evidence of witchcraft often relied on flimsy testimonies, such as rumors, hearsay, and the so-called "spectral evidence." Methods of identifying witches included "witch tests," such as the infamous ducking stool or pricking for evidence of the "witch's mark." The consequences of being accused of witchcraft were severe. Thousands of innocent people, primarily women, were subjected to torture, imprisonment, and execution. The methods of execution varied but often included burning at the stake or hanging. However, the discovery of witchcraft eventually began to lose its fervor. Scholars and intellectuals, such as Reginald Scot and Johann Weyer, began questioning the legitimacy of witch trials and challenging the prevailing beliefs. Their writings and arguments played a significant role in the decline of witch trials in the 17th century. In conclusion, the discovery of witchcraft was a dark period in history marked by widespread persecution and fear. It was fueled by religious tensions, societal anxieties, and a lack of scientific understanding. While the witch trials eventually lost favor, the legacy of this phenomenon serves as a reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria and the importance of rational thinking..
Reviews for "Witchcraft and Magic: Exploring the Boundaries"
- Emma - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "The Discovery of Witchcraft", but I ended up feeling disappointed. The writing style was too dry and dense for my taste, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. I also found the characters to be one-dimensional and uninteresting, which made it hard for me to care about their journey. Overall, I think this book had potential, but it fell short in execution.
- Jake - 1 star - I couldn't even finish "The Discovery of Witchcraft" because it was so boring. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it felt like nothing was happening for the majority of the book. I also didn't connect with the main character at all; she lacked depth and personality. I was hoping for an exciting and magical read, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver.
- Sarah - 3 stars - While "The Discovery of Witchcraft" had an intriguing premise, I found the execution to be lacking. The plot felt scattered and disjointed, making it difficult to follow along. Additionally, the dialogue was stilted and unnatural, which made it hard for me to connect with the characters. Despite these flaws, there were some interesting magical elements in the story that kept me somewhat engaged. However, I ultimately wouldn't recommend this book to others.