The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow
Jennet is the daughter of the Witchfinder of Mercia and East Anglia. Whilst her father roams the countryside in search of heretics, Jennet is left behind to be schooled by her aunt Isobel in the New Philosophy principally expounded by Isaac Newton. But her aunt's style of scientific enquiry soon attracts the attention of the witchfinders. To save her aunt, Jennet travels to Cambridge to seek the help of Newton himself. Isobel is burned at the stake but in her dying moments, begs Jennet to devote her life to overturning the Parliamentary Witchcraft Act. This is a huge rollercoaster of a novel as Jennet travels to America and witnesses the Salem witch trials; is abducted by Indians; begins an affair with Benjamin Franklin; travels back to England and finally meets the real Newton; is shipwrecked; then ends up back in America where her brother is now the Witchfinder Royal. In a great final showdown between old superstition and new science, Jennet decides to have herself accused of witchcraft in order to disprove its existence.
This is a historical romp that makes most other novels bearing that description seem like a retroactive wriggle -- Tom Cox DAILY MAIL 2303.07 This picaresque, idiosyncratic and erudite work is garnished with no small measure of wit THE HERALD This picaresque adventure marries philosophy, science and outlandish humour THE INDEPENDENT
James Morrow has lectured and worked in the fields of magazine publishing and television, as well as writing for children. He has written several books of science fiction but this is his first novel for the general audience.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780753821534 |
| ISBN 10 | 0753821532 |
| Title | The Last Witchfinder |
| Author | James Morrow |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Orion Publishing Co |
| Year published | 2007-03-01 |
| Number of pages | 576 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |