***Online event - Zoom link will be sent to you on the day of the event*** Cliterature, the Vagina Museum's book club, offers you a generous and satisfying fingering through the feminist pages. Well include a mixture of fiction, non-fiction, essays and poetry. Everyone is welcome. Our book club is led by former trustee, Niharika Jain.
About the book:
They will have justice. They will show their power. They will not burn.
'Three women's fight for survival in a time of madness' Kiran Millwood
Hargrave, author of The Mercies
Norway, 1662. A dangerous time to be a woman, when even dancing can lead to
accusations of witchcraft. After recently widowed Zigri's affair with the
local merchant is discovered, she is sent to the fortress at Vardo to be
tried as a witch.
Zigri's daughter Ingeborg sets off into the wilderness to try to bring her
mother back home. Accompanying her on this quest is Maren - herself the
daughter of a witch - whose wild nature and unconquerable spirit gives
Ingeborg the courage to venture into the unknown, and to risk all she has to
save her family. Also captive in the fortress is Anna Rhodius, once the King
of Denmark's mistress, who has been sent in disgrace to the island of Vardo.
What will she do - and who will she betray - to return to her privileged life
at court? These Witches of Vardo are stronger than even the King. In an age
weighted against them, they refuse to be victims. They will have their
justice.
All they need do is show their power.
'An intricately woven, timeless novel about prejudice, misogyny, freedom and
the power and strength we can find within' - Christy Lefteri, author of The
Beekeeper of Aleppo
'A passionate indictment of the patriarchy... a vibrant exaltation of the
resilience of women... Anya Bergman summons a historic witch trial with
breathtaking detail and immediacy' Hannah Kent, author of Burial Rites
'Brilliant and powerful. Haunting and beautifully written. A complex and
gripping novel reclaiming and retelling the stories of the women accused of
witchcraft in Norway. Hugely atmospheric. Read it!' - Liz Hyder, author of
The Gifts
About the author:
Anya Bergman became interested in the witch trials of Vard and the vivid folk
tales of the north while living in Norway. Travelling to the Steilneset
memorial, in which Louise Bourgeois and Peter Zumthor commemorated those
persecuted as witches, she became fascinated by their stories. Now resident
in Ireland, she is currently undertaking a PhD by Published Works at
Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland where she also lectures as well as
tutoring for Jericho Writers. She is working on her next novel, which unites
the fates of two very different women against the tumultuous backdrop of the
French Revolution.
How to get the book:
If you can, try to get your hands on a copy via your local independent
bookshop or library as a physical book, e-book or audiobook.
As this is a participatory event by nature, not a performance, anyone who
doesn't engage - which can via audio, text, or any method accessible to you -
will be automatically removed to ensure safety of all participants. Dont
worry if youve not finished the book in time for the session, having read
some or most of it will help you take part in our discussion.
Live transcription will be enabled on Zoom for all our events. If you need a
transcript after the event, please email us at [email protected] to get
a copy.
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