The Last Witchfinder

Last updated

The Last Witchfinder cover.jpg
Cover for the US first edition of the novel
Author James Morrow
LanguageEnglish
Subject Salem witch trials, witch hunts
GenreHistorical fiction
Published2006, William Morrow
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint, e-book
Pages544 pages
ISBN 0060821795

The Last Witchfinder is a 2006 historical fiction novel by James Morrow. The book was first published in hardback on March 14, 2006 through William Morrow and has subsequently been re-published in paperback format. The Last Witchfinder follows a young girl whose father works as a witch-finder. [1]

Contents

Synopsis

Jennet is a young English girl whose witch hunter father is frequently away on witch hunts. She's left with her aunt Isobel, a fan of Isaac Newton's scientific style. The two become close, but eventually Isobel's viewpoints cause her to become the focus of a witchhunt that ends with her getting burned at the stake. Jennet is unsuccessful in her attempts to rescue her aunt from this grisly fate and as such, decides to fulfill her aunt's dying wish that Jennet bring down the Witchcraft Acts.

Reception

Critical reception for The Last Witchfinder has been positive, [2] and Publishers Weekly gave the book a favorable starred review. [3] The Washington Post and The New York Times praised the work, [4] and the Washington Post commented that the work was "so enchanting that when I finished the novel, I sat for a moment wondering when I could visit Jennet's grave in Philadelphia." [5] USA Today wrote that they enjoyed the work's main character and that "Morrow injects humor and detail, but to enjoy this novel, you need a real appetite for the history of science." [6] The Independent was more mixed in their review, as they felt that "if only this had been edited down to about half its length, it could have been a cracking picaresque yarn." [7]

Awards

References

  1. "THE LAST WITCHFINDER (review)". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  2. Mendlesohn, Farah. "The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow (review)". Strange Horizons. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  3. "The Last Witchfinder (review)". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  4. Maslin, Janet (March 30, 2006). "She Who Debunks Witchcraft Shall Face Toil and Trouble". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  5. Charles, Ron. "Wicked". Washington Post. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  6. Memmott, Carol. "Religion, science battle it out in 'Witchfinder'". USA Today. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  7. ROBSHAW, BRANDON (May 13, 2006). "The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow (review)" . Independent. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  8. "1996 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  9. "1997 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved May 16, 2009.