Synopsis
The Mercies: A gripping tale of love, suspicion, and the strength of women in the face of adversity, inspired by real events.
1617. A vicious storm throws the sea around the remote Norwegian island of Vardø into chaos. Maren watches helplessly as the island's men, out fishing, perish in an instant. Vardø is now a place of women.
Eighteen months later, Absalom Cornet arrives, determined to bring the island's independent women to heel. Accompanying him is his young wife, Ursa. In Vardø, and in Maren, Ursa discovers something she's never encountered before: the strength and resilience of women left to forge their own path.
While Ursa finds unexpected happiness and even love in her new home, Absalom sees only a community corrupted by a terrible evil that he must root out at any cost.
The Mercies is a mesmerizing tale of love, fear, and the potential for both to transform a community. Kiran Millwood Hargrave weaves a rich tapestry of historical detail and poignant insights into the hearts of her unforgettable characters.
Perfect for fans of Circe and The Handmaid's Tale, this haunting and atmospheric novel will linger long after the final page.
Details
06 February 2020
9781529005158Reviews
The Mercies is among the best novels I’ve read in years. In addition to its beautiful writing, its subject matter is both enduring and timely
A gripping novel . . . [Kiran Millwood Hargrave's] most vital insights are about the human heart: how terrifyingly quickly prejudices can turn into murder, and how desperately we need love and courage to oppose it. Beautiful and chilling
This is a powerful story that gathers ever more momentum as it moves towards its conclusion
The most interesting historical fiction speaks of the time of writing as much as of its subject . . . The Mercies shows us the patriarchal fear of women's strength and reason
