We Are All Witches
MAIRI KIDD
Description
From 1563 to 1736 Scotland put thousands of women to death for witchcraft. Their supposed crimes have much to tell us about attitudes to women in the past, and in the present day. This book introduces sixteen women who lost their lives or lived in the long shadow of the persecutions.
'Witches' who, like MARGARET AITKEN, confessed, implicated others, even aided the hunters before they were burned.
Nonconforming women like MARY MACLEOD, who saw their reputations tarnished when they did not bend to society's expectations.
Creatures of the imagination, like Robert Burns's NANNY, who embody deep-seated associations between womanhood and the occult.
Weaving fiction with the facts where these are known, We Are All Witches invites the reader to explore the forces at work in one of the darkest episodes of Scotland's history and consider their echoes in the present day.
Product Details
Publication Date: 6 October 2022
ISBN: 978 1 78530 413 2
Extent: 224pp
Format: Hardback 227x188
Reviews
“Springing directly from the pioneering Witches of Scotland campaign, Kidd has imagined lively and convincing voices from the past to commemorate the lost lives of Scotland’s witches, reminiscent of Jenni Fagan’s Hex.” – Sara Sheridan, author of The Fair Botanists
“This clever and compelling book brings the victims of the witch hunts into sharp focus. This book is a must for anyone interested in this horrifying time in Scotland’s history.” – Zoe Venditozzi, Witches of Scotland campaign
“We Are All Witches is a compelling, moving book that invites the reader to consider not only the background to the Scottish witch trials and the mythology surrounding witches, but also the lives of those affected.” – Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women
“We are over the moon that what started as a commission for our project has become such a beautiful and important book that gives a voice to so many women across Scotland. Màiri’s stories have moved and inspired us, and this book is a true gem.” – Heal & Harrow
About the Author
Mairi Kidd is a former Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing at Creative Scotland. She was previously Managing Director of Barrington Stoke, a prize-winning publisher. A fluent Gaelic speaker, she has an MA in Celtic Studies from Edinburgh University. As CEO of Storlann, the National Gaelic Education Resource Agency, she worked with Scottish Government, Bord na Gaidhlig and local authorities. Mairi is a contributor to BBC Radio nan Gaidheal's books coverage and writes for broadcast, including Gaelic comedy series FUNC.
