Synopsis
'Intriguing' – The Sunday Times
'A rousing read' – The Irish Times
'A bright light of Francophone feminism' – The New York Times
Renowned journalist Mona Chollet recasts the witch as a powerful role model: an emblem of strength, free to exist beyond the narrow limits society imposes on women.
Taking three archetypes from historic witch hunts – independent women, women who avoid having children and women who embrace ageing – Chollet examines how women today have the same charges levelled against them. She calls for justice in healthcare, challenging the gender imbalance in science and questioning why female bodies are still controlled by men.
Rich with popular culture, literary references and media insights, In Defence of Witches is a vital addition to the cultural conversation around women, witches and the misogyny that has shaped the world they live in.
With a foreword by Carmen Maria Machado and translated from French by Sophie R. Lewis.
Details
12 January 2023
9781529034066Reviews
A thought-provoking, discursive survey by Mona Chollet, a bright light of Francophone feminism . . . Chollet has emerged as a quiet revolutionary, pushing back against the clichés and the patriarchy that shapes them.Rachel Donadio, The New York Times
What sets Chollet’s book apart is her aligning so clearly the historical mistreatment of so-called witches with the misogyny of the 21st century. The subtitle sums it up: why women are still on trial . . . a rousing read.Sarah Gilmartin, Irish Times
Explores the worldview that the witch hunt has sought to promote - and its consequences on society today.Vice
Mona Chollet reminds us how an infamous label has become a symbol of women's resistance to male domination.Le Monde
