The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargreave
Vardo, a remote fishing village in the far North East of Norway. It is Christmas Eve 1617 when a sudden, fierce storm takes the lives of forty fishermen. The women left behind must now fend for themselves. They struggle against the elements, the harsh landscape and the fear of how going to sea to fish, butchering meat and doing all that had been mens’ work is seen as being ungodly by many in their society.
The story is told by Miren, a young woman from the village who lost her father, brother, and husband-to-be in the storm, and by Ursula, a new bride, who travels from Bergen to Vardo with her husband Absalom, the newly appointed commissioner.
What the villagers, and indeed Ursula, do not realise is that Absalom is a witch finder.
Based on factual events (Vardo storm 1617, Vardo witch trials 1621) this is at times a harrowing read yet so descriptive and beautifully written. It introduced me to a time in history I was unaware of and will definitely be on my “read again” list.
Submitted by Deborah
