Bibliograph

The witch of eye, essays, Kathryn Nuernberger

Type

Label

The witch of eye, essays, Kathryn Nuernberger

Language

eng

Index

no index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The witch of eye

Nature of contents

dictionaries

Responsibility statement

Kathryn Nuernberger

Sub title

essays

Summary

This amazingly wise and nimble collection investigates the horrors inflicted on so-called "witches" of the past. The Witch of Eye unearths salves, potions, and spells meant to heal, yet interpreted by inquisitors as evidence of evil. The author describes torture and forced confessions alongside accounts of gentleness of legendary midwives. In one essay about a trial, we learn through folklore that Jesus's mother was a midwife who cured her own son's rheumatism. In other essays, there are subtle parallels to contemporary discourse around abortion and environmental destruction. Nuernberger weaves in her own experiences too. There's an ironic look at her own wedding, an uncomfortable visit to the Prague Museum of Torture, and an afternoon spent tearing out a garden in a mercurial fit. Her researched material is eye-opening, lively, and often funny. An absolutely thrilling collection

Target audience

adult

Classification