Solstice
Witch trials historical fiction
Published on 19. September 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
300 pages
978-1-915421-97-5 (ISBN)
Description
England, 1673. Still a world of witches, witch trials and witchfinders.
When a new vicar arrives to take over the parish of Mutton Clog, the village finds itself in the grip of puritan fever, and suspicious eyes are turned on Rose Driver.
Rose's mother, brother and grandmother were all put to death by the fanatical witchfinder, John Sharpe. Almost quarter of a century after the Newcastle witch trials, Sharpe is no longer a threat. Rose should be safe in her quiet village, but is history about to repeat itself?
Find out in Solstice, the powerful conclusion to the trilogy, which tells the story of one woman's struggle for survival in a hostile and superstitious world.
The Newcastle Witch Trials Trilogy was inspired by the little-known Newcastle witch trials, where fifteen women and one man were hanged for witchcraft on a single day in August 1650.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
304 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-915421-97-5 (9781915421975)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Helen Steadman is a historical novelist. She recently completed her fifth book, Solstice, the final part of The Newcastle Witch Trials Trilogy. The trilogy was inspired by the witch hunt of 1650 where fifteen women and one man were hanged as witches. Despite the Newcastle witch trials being one of the largest mass executions of witches on a single day in England, they are not widely known about. Helen is particularly interested in revealing hidden histories and is a thorough researcher who goes to great lengths in pursuit of historical accuracy. To get under the skin of the cunning women in The Newcastle Witch Trials Trilogy, Helen trained in herbalism. The Running Wolf tells the tale of a group of master swordmakers who defected from Solingen, Germany and moved to Shotley Bridge, England in 1687. As well as carrying out in-depth archive research and visiting forges in Solingen to bring her story to life, Helen also undertook blacksmith training, which culminated in making her own sword.