Sadhana of Mahamudra Sourcebook

A powerfully poignant tale of one of the most turbulent moments in Scotland's history: the North Berwick Witch Trials. IT'S THE 4TH OF DECEMBER 1591. On this, the last night of her life, in a prison cell several floors below Edinburgh's High Street, convicted witch Geillis Duncan receives a mysterious visitor – Iris, who says she comes from a future where women are still persecuted for who they are and what they believe. As the hours pass and dawn approaches, Geillis recounts the circumstances of her arrest, brutal torture, confession and trial, while Iris offers support, solace – and the tantalising prospect of escape. Hex is a visceral depiction of what happens when a society is consumed by fear and superstition, exploring how the terrible force of a king's violent crusade against ordinary women can still be felt, right up to the present day. 'This series has already produced two works of note and distinction. It raises the question – if a country cannot re-tell its history, will it be stuck forever in aspic and condemned to be nothing more than a shortbread tin illustration? Hex and Rizzio are showing the way towards a reckoning, and about time too' – Stuart Kelly, Scotland on Sunday From Granta Best Of Young British Novelist Jenni Fagan Comes An Ambitious And Powerfully Poignant Tale Of One Of The Most Turbulent Moments In Scotland's History, The North Berwick Witch Trials. Praise For Luckenbooth ‘dazzlingly Ambitious’- Douglas Stuart ‘one Of The Most Stunning Literary Experiences I’ve Had In Years’- Irvine Welsh ‘fagan Is Drawn To Those Who Exist On The Outer Reaches . . . It Is Somewhere Between Alan Warner And Iain Banks That Fagan’s Storytelling Ability Sits, The Grit Of Her Familial Backstories And Dysfunctional Relationships Dusted With The Glitter Of Magical Realism’- Ben Myers, New Statesman ‘she Writes At The Pace Of Thought, Sentences Like Gunfire . . . She Has A Poet’s Affection For Precision And Image’- Financial Times It’s The 4th Of December 1591. On This, The Last Night Of Her Life, In A Prison Cell Several Floors Below Edinburgh’s High Street, Convicted Witch Geillis Duncan Receives A Mysterious Visitor – Iris, Who Says She Comes From A Future Where Women Are Still Persecuted For Who They Are And What They Believe. As The Hours Pass And Dawn Approaches, Geillis Recounts The Circumstances Of Her Arrest, Brutal Torture, Confession And Trial, While Iris Offers Support, Solace – And The Tantalising Prospect Of Escape. Hex Is A Visceral Depiction Of What Happens When A Society Is Consumed By Fear And Superstition, Exploring How The Terrible Force Of A King’s Violent Crusade Against Ordinary Women Can Still Be Felt, Right Up To The Present Day. "During the sixteenth century witch trials, over a hundred women were accused of summoning up a storm to destroy the ship carrying the future Scottish Queen across the sea from Denmark. Starting on the day of her execution, Geillis Duncan recounts the circumstances of her arrest, torture, confession and trial, in a powerful and gripping journey into a space where myth, religion and reality combine with deadly consequences. Offering a visceral depiction of a culture of fear and superstition, Fagan explores the lingering connections between womanhood and the occult, and the obsessive mania of a king who saw the threat of demons and witches all around him. Devils, ghouls, cauldrons, ectoplasm, physic powers and black magic combine in a haunting tale by one of Scotland's most exciting and innovative writers."--Provided by publisher From the multi-award-winning, former Granta Best Young British Novelist, Jenni Fagan tells the story of Geillis Duncan, a teenage girl caught up in the sixteenth century witch trials in the Scottish coastal town of North Berwick.