The Last Witchfinder

by James Morrow
The Last Witchfinder cover
Good Books rating 2.83
Historical Fiction
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  • ID: 6851
  • Added: 2025-12-05
  • Updated: 2025-12-05
  • ISBN: 9780297865612
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2010-12-16
  • Reviews: 3

The Last Witchfinder is a captivating historical novel that follows the picaresque adventures of Jennet, the daughter of the last Witchfinder of Mercia and East Anglia. As her father hunts heretics, Jennet is educated by her aunt Isobel in the New Philosophy, principally expounded by Isaac Newton. This scientific inquiry attracts the attention of witchfinders, leading Jennet to seek Newton's help. Despite her aunt's tragic fate, Jennet is determined to overturn the Parliamentary Witchcraft Act. /n/n The novel takes readers on a rollercoaster journey as Jennet travels to America, witnesses the Salem witch trials, is abducted by Indians, begins an affair with Benjamin Franklin, and ultimately meets the real Newton. In a climactic showdown between old superstition and new science, Jennet decides to have herself accused of witchcraft to disprove its existence. This epic tale blends historical events with a compelling narrative of courage and enlightenment.

Reviews
The Independent · 2025-12-05
thought-provoking 3.50

The book is a thought-provoking exploration of reason versus superstition. It is ambitious but sometimes struggles with coherence.

The reviewer notes that 'The Last Witchfinder' is a thought-provoking exploration of the battle between reason and superstition. They appreciate Morrow's ambitious narrative and his efforts to admonish readers about the potential destruction of the world. However, they find that the story sometimes struggles with coherence, making it a challenging read. The reviewer highlights the book's wit and its ability to provoke deep thought, but they also note that the plot can be convoluted and hard to follow at times.

Quick quotes

    James Morrow writes in order to tell us things: to admonish us about our coming destruction of the world, or about the battle between reason and superstition.

    The narrative is ambitious, tackling complex themes with wit and thought-provoking insights.

    The story sometimes struggles with coherence, making it a challenging read.

Strange Horizons · Farah Mendlesohn · 2025-12-05
intriguing 3.00

The book has a complex history and explores themes of reason versus superstition. The narrative is ambitious but sometimes struggles with coherence.

Farah Mendlesohn delves into the intricate history of 'The Last Witchfinder,' noting its journey from obscurity to publication. She appreciates Morrow's ambitious narrative, which tackles the tension between reason and superstition in Restoration England. However, she finds that the story's complexity sometimes leads to a lack of coherence, making it a challenging read. Mendlesohn highlights Morrow's wit and the book's thought-provoking themes, but she also notes that the plot can be convoluted and hard to follow at times.

Quick quotes

    James Morrow's The Last Witchfinder has had a tortured history: it was written several years ago and languished, unloved and bereft of sponsorship.

    Morrow's narrative is ambitious, tackling the tension between reason and superstition in Restoration England.

    The story's complexity sometimes leads to a lack of coherence, making it a challenging read.

Old English Rose · 2010-09-18
disappointing 2.00

The book is well-researched but fails to present the information in an engaging manner. The plot drags on and the writing is overly verbose.

The reviewer appreciates the extensive research that went into 'The Last Witchfinder' but finds that the book falls short in making the information interesting or relevant. They criticize the plot for dragging on and the writing for being overly verbose, which detracts from the overall reading experience. Despite some witty moments, the reviewer feels that the book's strengths are overshadowed by its weaknesses, making it a disappointing read.

Quick quotes

    Usually I appreciate a well-researched novel, but this book does not present it in a way which makes the information interesting or relevant.

    The plot just dragged on and Morrow's tendency to be verbose just made the reading experience tedious.

    Parts of it were wonderful and witty, but unfortunately, the plot just dragged on.

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