Title- The Mercies
Author- Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Publisher- Picador
Pages- 339
Rating- 5/5
Summary- On Christmas Eve, in the year 1617, a devastating storm wipes out most of the men in the fishing village of Vardø including Maren's father and brother, a time when it is believed that "a woman has no place in a boat". With dwindling food supplies Kirsten and Maren along with some other women summon the courage to go fishing resulting in a rift with the orthodox women. Things take a different turn when Absalom Cornet, a "witch hunter" from Scotland is appointed as the Commissioner of Vardø. Being an outsider, Absalom is not used to the Sami traditions which the people of Vardø adhere to despite being Christians, nor does he approves of women who go to the sea, so he eyes them with suspicion. His Norwegian wife, Ursa, shares a strong friendship with Maren and does not approve of his doings but is too intimidated by him to stop him.
Review- It is a heart wrenching story of those times when innocent people were executed due to allegations of performing witchcraft. It was distressing to know how before execution the accusers brutally tortured them in the name of God. The author has skilfully portrayed how women were considered inferior to men and they had no say on any matter like Ursa had to beg her husband to read the letter sent from her home. The way of life in a small island like Vardø where during winters the sun do not come out for months has been beautifully captured.
After losing her dear ones to the storm and left with a grieving mother and sister-in-law, Maren has nobody to share her pain. On the other hand, Ursa having just left her sister behind in Bergen needs a friend and Absalom cannot be that person as she finds him menacing. So when she finally become friends with Maren, the bond is a strong one where they can do anything to protect each other. However Absalom is an obstinate person and grows skeptical about Maren when he comes to know that her sister-in-law Diinna, is a Sami.
It was painful to know that the story is based on true events and in the year 1621, eight women were indeed accused of witchcraft for bringing about the storm which had almost eradicated the male population in Vardø. I would highly recommend this gem of a book to all bibliophiles out there.
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