Black Wood Women
England 1649. Having fled Cromwell’s murderous foray into Ireland, little Caragh O’Fealin and her parents narrowly survive an open-boat sea crossing to England where, as a debt repayment, they get land enough in Yorkshire to build a small house. Now a teenager, Caragh has become Kate, disguising her heritage, as does Ma, behind an English accent. But Da’s stumbling over some pronunciation, plus ongoing anti-Catholic/Irish hatred, lead to hideous consequences from which, somewhat fortuitously, Caragh is allowed to escape. On the run once again, she faces perilous encounters alone. Nearing starvation, she is taken in by a group of women living deep in a marshy forest who survive on nature’s bounty; they’ve been called witches, they rename her Rowan. Adding some carnivore spice to this mix, a grizzled ravenous pregnant wolf prowls that same countryside, as eventually do the hunters. As tough as Caragh and the wolf may have become, all their cunning will be required to survive.
With more than a smattering of old English words to give contemporary authenticity, this story strides purposefully along despite occasional repetition. Well- imagined settings provide valid backdrops to events fictional and real; for example, the contemporary treatment of heretics, witches and animals. Throughout is an affirmation of ‘green’ living – respecting and understanding life, death, the land and its myriad creatures (the wolf’s tale is told most poignantly), knowing healing plants and hedgerow foods – emphasising that which now is mostly forgotten. An interesting story of three religions: Protestant, Catholic and Nature.
