The Highland Witch

Starred review from May 1, 2012

Whitbread Award winner Fletcher brings a stunning retelling of the 1692 Glencoe massacre in which 38 members of Clan MacDonald were killed by the king's soldiers in the Scottish highlands. Corrag, an accused witch, relates her story to Charles Leslie, an Irish Jacobite seeking evidence against the king. Jailed and waiting to be burned, Corrag agrees to tell Charles what he wants to know, but he must listen to her whole tale. And what a tale it is--luminous prose transports the listener to Corrag's side as she searches for a home, finds joy in the little wonders of life, and braves the brutality of those who don't understand her. Award-winning narrator Rosalyn Landor is convincing in her vocal choices, handling strong accents and remarkable male voices and employing a perfect timbre for the delicate Corrag. VERDICT This evocative tale will linger long after the last words are spoken. It will appeal to fans of historical fiction and those who enjoy works by Diana Gabaldon and Philippa Gregory. ["Corrag's story and the brutality suffered by women throughout the British Isles need to be retold in each generation," read the starred review of the Norton hc, then titled Corrag, LJ 9/15/10.--Ed.]--Donna Bachowski, Orange Cty. Lib. Syst., Orlando, FL

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