The Last Witch of Scotland by Philip Paris is a historical fiction novel based on the true story of the last woman to be executed for witchcraft. The reader follows Aila as she navigates a new life in a new town with her mother, Janet, having lost her father a couple of years beforehand.
Aila and Janet live a quiet and comfortable life, tending to their small bit of land and making ale for the market. They are regular church goers and liked by those in their community until the fateful day a new, temporary minister arrives. Reverend McNeil is a believer in the old ways, convinced women are, by nature, in cahoots with the Devil. His particular interest in Aila alerts her more to his danger, something not quite right lurking below his skin, ticking in his mind.
Aila and Janet continue to try and lead a normal life, meeting Jack and his band of performers during one of their days selling ale at the market. The troupe adopts Aila and Janet in a way and vice versa, leading to the development of new relationships. Something in particular sparks within Aila regarding Jack, finally meeting someone that doesn't appear to judge her for her appearance, having been burned years ago in the fire that killed her father.
All of this culminates together-- Janet caring for Aila, Jack and Aila's relationship growing, Reverend McNeil's twisted beliefs, and the setting of small town Scottish Highlands to demonstrate how dangerous independence and free thinking could be for a woman during this time. This story is not necessarily a happy one, but it shows how easily minds can change, how malleable beliefs are when injected with fear, and how people still try to find happiness through even the worst of times.
Within the author's note, Paris explains that there are, of course, differences in the story he tells and the truth, mostly because of the fact that there is not a lot of detail given about Janet and Aila in other texts. Which, in itself, I think, stands as a testament to the injustices that occurred during this time. In fact, Paris goes on to explain that in some places, this still occurs.
I encourage you to read this book so that, while every detail may not be the same, Janet and Aila's stories live on. They, along with everyone else who was accused of witchcraft, who was tarred, burned, left to suffocate-- they all deserve at least the sliver of justice we can offer, and perhaps all we can offer now is to remember them.
- Sarah
A Few Favorite Quotes
- "I knew. I knew exactly what he meant and I thought my heart would burst with the fear of it."
-"'Love binds us as much as it can blind us. Thank God it does, for without it what are we left with?'"
- "'Aila, I've never seen anyone's face light up so much in another person's presence. Don't let your injuries blind you to your feelings . . . or his.'"
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