Hour of the Witch is an intense, nightmarish page-turner. And in my eyes, utter perfection. It’s the story of Mary, a fiery and intelligent Puritan from a wealthy family who has the misfortune of marrying a monster in the New World. Thomas’ acts of ingenious cruelty slowly escalate to the point where Mary can endure them no longer. So she does the unthinkable- she files for divorce.
17th century Massachusetts is a breeding ground for misogyny, salacious gossip and religious fervor. Mary’s fellow colonists are scandalized by her intention to separate from her respected husband Thomas. And thanks to her childless state, fondness for herbal remedies and an unfortunate incident involving cutlery, there are whispers that Mary might in fact be a witch.
Hour of the Witch is a gripping, spell-binding, emotional rollercoaster ride. I frequently found myself outraged and incensed on Mary’s behalf. The way she was abused by her alcoholic husband and treated as less-than by her community (just for being a woman) was absolutely infuriating. I felt deeply sympathetic for her plight.
I have to hand it to Chris Bohjalian, every book I’ve read by him has been superb, but this one takes the cake. His impeccable research and passion for colonial life comes alive on the page. I was easily swept up in the dramatic whirlwind that was the Puritan witch hunt. Bohjalian expertly crafts a psychological backdrop percolating with paranoia, suspicion and outright hysteria.
I appreciated the use of the wild woman archetype embodied by Mary and Constance. Their intelligence and sharp tongues are seen as a palpable threat to the men in the colony. The only way to eliminate said threat? Accuse them of being the devil’s handmaidens. If those two strong and independent women with scintillating wit were labeled witches, then sign me up. I want to be one too.
It’s interesting to contemplate the overwhelming irony of the colonists’ behavior. They cling desperately to their religion, extreme and single-minded in their pursuit of the kingdom of heaven. And yet, they who studied the Bible and learned to love thy neighbor, were so quick to condemn someone to death (not to mention eternal damnation!) with little to no evidence. The hypocrisy is astounding.
I highly recommend Hour of the Witch to readers who enjoy suspenseful and thrilling historical fiction that fearlessly explores the dark and intimate corners of the (Puritan) psyche.
