The Amber Witch
The Amber Witch
(Maria Schweidler, die Bernsteinhexe)
The most interesting trial for witchcraft ever known. Printed from an imperfect manuscript by her father Abraham Schweidler, the pastor of Coserow, in the Island of Usedom. Translated by Lady Duff Gordon.
Book Excerpt
was once more in great need, and my daughter Mary
pierced my heart with her sighs, when the cry was raised that another
troop of Imperialists was come to Uekeritze, and was marauding there more
cruelly than ever, and, moreover, had burnt half the village. Wherefore I
no longer thought myself safe in my cottage; and after I had commended
everything to the Lord in a fervent prayer, I went up with my daughter and
old Ilse into the Streckelberg, where I already had looked out for
ourselves a hole like a cavern, well grown over with brambles, against the
time when the troubles should drive us thither. We therefore took with us
all we had left to us for the support of our bodies, and fled into the
woods, sighing and weeping, whither we soon were followed by the old men,
and the women and children; these raised a great cry of hunger when they
saw my daughter sitting on a log and eating a bit of bread and meat, and
the little things came with their tiny hands stretched out and cried "Have
some too, have some too." Th
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This was an excellent read! I would definitely read it again! Even though it seemed a little fictional at times it will give you a better insight to the witch trials of that time. I would definitely recommend it to anyone no matter what genre you like. (Note: Review written when this title was mis-categorized as History.)
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A book that you do not want to put down and can't wait to get home to! I look forward to reading it again!
01/23/2010
This is claimed, by the translator, to be an actual account of a witchcraft trial. Why it appears in the fantasy genre I cannot understand. I read this recently and it proved to be one of those stories that linger in the mind long after one has finished reading it. At the very least it gives one an insight into the supperstitious mind-set prevelant in the 16th cent.As such, I found it to be an excellent read and I have emailed it to a couple of friends.
01/09/2010