Recommendations from our site
“A darkly sardonic story based on the real-life witch craze that took place during the early years of the English Civil War, when a self-declared ‘Witchfinder General’ took it upon himself to root out malefaction, moral corruption and heresy among the women left behind by their soldier husbands, sons and neighbours. The prose is deeply sensual and immersive; darkly sardonic, written in modern English but bejewelled with period-appropriate vocabulary. Blakemore is a published poet, and that comes through very strongly. Highly recommended.” Read more...
Cal Flyn, Five Books Editor
“The poet A. K. Blakemore’s prose debut The Manningtree Witches is a historical novel based on the real-life 17th century witch trials in Essex, England, set during the civil war and at a time when Puritan attitudes prevailed. I’ve seen it described, rather deliciously, as Fleabag meets Hilary Mantel, and if you can resist that then you are made of sterner stuff than I. Shortlisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize.” Read more...
Notable New Novels of Summer 2021
Cal Flyn, Five Books Editor
