The memorial was designed by French-American artist Louise Bourgeois and Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. It was the last major work of Bourgeois, who died at the age of 98 in New York just a few months before the memorial opened to the public. Inside the Steilneset witch memorial at Vardø. Photo: Jarle Wæhler / Statens vegvesen This was the last of the many great witch trials of Northern Norway. More people were accused in the following decades, but only two of those cases (in 1678 and 1695) led to a death sentence. Glorious and vivid: an intricate, timeless novel about prejudice, freedom and the power we can find within. It swept me away…’– Christy Lefteri There is beauty in this story. There is love, friendship and strength. It’s just so tragic that despite it being a somewhat feminist celebration, the characters are absolutely powerless in the face of the real evil: the men in power. The King may think he is all-powerful, but the three women in the story shall show the world an even greater power.

The witch trials of Vardø were held in Vardø in Finnmark in Northern Norway in the winter of 1662–1663 and were one of the biggest in Scandinavia. Thirty women were put on trial, accused of sorcery and making pacts with the Devil. One was sentenced to a work house, two tortured to death, and eighteen were burned alive at the stake. There are no witches in our village, Ingeborg, but the Devil does exist. Look into the eyes of our accusers and you will see him there.’Three women's fight for survival in a time of madness' Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies . I knew nothing about these witch trials in Norway when I started the book and then became enthralled by the story. Ms Bergman's writing made the events seem very real and believable. The portraits of Anna and Marden are superb. Overall, ‘The Witches of Vardø’ is an incredible debut and a superb example of literary historical fiction. It is extremely engaging and meticulously researched. I had a real sense of the deep connection that Anya Bergman felt to her subject.

Norway, 1662. A dangerous time to be a woman, when even dancing can lead to accusations of witchcraft. The novel is inspired by a very real story and very real people as the author details in her author note at the end of the book. BookTrail Travel to The Witches of Vardø The nearby mountain Domen, where many of the accused witches were said to have met, is now home to a shelter to rest and enjoy the ocean view. The trials in popular culture It’s slow going especially in the beginning but so worth it to push forth and dive into this dark, cold, violent, vibrant and fiery story where women suffer, die, but also persist and find happiness, searching inside for their inner lynx, their fierceness and royal-ness. Norway, 1662. This is a dangerous time to be a woman, especially one who steps outside the prescribed roles of wife and mother. Even dancing can lead to lurid accusations of witchcraft. Sölve Nilsdotter, Margrette Jonsdotter, and two more women were burned to death in Vardø on 20 March 1663.

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Anna Rhodius, ex-mistress of the King of Denmark, has been banished to Vardø for some unknown reason. She is convinced that the only way out of the godforsaken island is to provide information to the local Governor about suspected witches, whom he is determined to remove. Also captive in the fortress is Anna Rhodius, once the King of Denmark's mistress, who has been sent in disgrace to the island of Vardø. What will she do - and who will she betray - to return to her privileged life at court? Spoken Word and Social Practice: Orality in Europe (1400-1700). BRILL. 2015-07-17. ISBN 9789004291829. A very well written book keeping me hooked until the end. Not graphic yet harrowing in your minds eye; the sign of a truly skilled writer. I did question some plot choices which I felt pushed multiple characters into a shared location which whilst helping the storyline, strained my understanding of the younger characters decisions.

Living in poverty Ingeborg’s mother Zigri, who is recently widowed has been sent to Vardo to await trial when her affair with a local merchant is discovered and she is accused of being a witch. The novel to transport you to the island of Vardoya, Norway to the most infamous witch trials of ScandinaviaAs inspiration, this book takes real witch trials that happened in Norwegian Vardo in the 17th century. This topic interested me and I read a couple of books about witch hunts the last year. This book happens in the same setting The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave took place. And even though I didn't love The Mercies, reading this book made me value and appreciate it much more. The characters are strong, you really do get a sense that they are based on real people and there is an incredibly realistic feel to the whole novel. The addition of some folklore tales such as The Three Mothers and The Blue Ribbon at the beginning of each of the ‘Parts’ of the book was a nice touch and also adds some authenticity. Steilenset remains to remind us to never forget the causes of their misfortune–or the consequences of fear and persecution. Related Entries