But Alice soon stands accused of witchcraft. By chance she meets a midwife named Alice Grey, who promises to help her deliver a healthy baby. Then Fleetwood discovers a hidden doctor’s letter that carries a dire prediction: she will not survive another birth. None of her previous pregnancies have borne fruit, and her husband, Richard, is anxious for an heir. Are you like the king now, thinking all wise women and poor women and midwives are carrying out the Devil’s work? Why, he must be the largest employer in Lancashire.Young Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a noblewoman, is with child again. She is a midwife, like her mother before her. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone interested in witch trials, and the oppressive rules women in 17th century England were subjected to. Also, Fleetwood’s alienation and naivete got on my nerves at times.

Divided into four parts, I struggled with the pace until the middle of part two. Where the book fell short for me was in the slow pace of the narrative. I also really enjoyed Fleetwood and Alice’s friendship. It elicited issues of female powerlessness in a society that expected women to behave in a certain way and the power that a patriarchal society exerted over them. This book had several very good points from a feminist point of view. They start a friendship in the midst of the Witch Trials and Alice is accused of being a witch and practicing witchcraft. Fleetwood is a noblewoman who is anxious to have a baby after having had several miscarriages.įleetwood soon meets Alice Gray, a midwife who assures Fleetwood she can help her carry her pregnancy to term. The story is told by Fleetwood Shuttleworth’s point of view. The Familiars by Stacey Hall was an interesting work of fiction based on events and people from the real Pendle Witch Trials of 1612. Time is running out both their lives are at stake. As the two women’s lives become intertwined, the Witch Trials of 1612 loom. Is there more to Alice than meets the eye? Fleetwood must risk everything to prove her innocence. By chance, she meets a midwife named Alice Grey, who promises to help her deliver a healthy baby. Young Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a noblewoman, is with child again.

The familiars book review