A fierce, electrifying novel inspired by the true story of the first woman to be condemned as a witch in Ireland
In thirteenth-century Ireland, a woman with power is a woman to be feared.
Alice, the daughter of a wealthy innkeeper in Kilkenny, grows up watching her mother wither under the constraints of family responsibilities—and she vows that she will never suffer the same fate. In time, she discovers she has a flair for making money, and takes her father's flourishing business to new heights. But as her riches and stature grow, so too do rumors about her private life. By the time she marries her fourth husband—the three earlier are dead—a storm of local gossip and resentment culminates in a life-threatening accusation . . .
A breathtaking act of imagination, Bright I Burn gives voice to a woman lost to history, who dared to carve a space of her own in a man’s world.
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"An astonishing second novel after her brilliant debut, Molly Aitken takes Alice Kyteler—the first woman condemned as a witch in Ireland—and breathes life into a woman as gentle as a candle’s flame, and as destructive as an inferno. Lyrical and wildly imaginative, readers will love and fear Alice in equal measure and remember her story long after they’ve finished the last page."
— Megan Barnard, author of Jezebel
Extraordinary . . . Some of the best prose I’ve read.
— Elaine Feeney, author of How to Build a BoatA gorgeous, blazing novel, that makes history crackle to life. Fans of Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet or A.K. Blakemore’s The Manningtree Witches will love Aitken’s complex, sensual anti-heroine.
— Clare Pollard, author of DelphiA lushly fevered tale of marriage, murder and moneylending . . . Haunting and powerful.
— Jane Healey, author of The Beantown GirlsAn incandescent story, ablaze with the passion and determination of a woman centuries ahead of her time.
— Polly Crosby, author of The Book of Hidden WondersSpellbinding . . . A stunning rendition of one fierce Irish woman’s voice pitted against the patriarchal power constructs of Medieval Ireland.
— Anya Bergman, author of The Witches of VardøAitken is a distinct, singular, stunning voice in historical fiction, and Bright I Burn is a triumph. It took my breath away.
— Jenny Mustard, author of Okay DaysI was captivated. Every sentence reads like poetry. A stunning, magical, beguiling book.
— Huma Qureshi, author of Playing GamesBeautifully told, full of passion and fire, Aitken evokes a vivid sense of time and place through her powerful depiction of a woman determined to maintain her position in a society driven by men. Stunning.
— Jenny Quintana, author of Missing GirlDarkly atmospheric, this beautiful novel transported me straight to Medieval Ireland.
— Haleh Agar, author of Out of TouchGripping, poetic, a glorious story of a remarkable woman’s passion and her revenge.
— Louisa Reid, author of The PoetThis is lustrous elemental writing, full of rich earth, smouldering flames and roiling waters—which left me gasping for air. It consumed me like a fire.
— Katie Hale, author of The Edge of SolitudeExciting and triumphant . . . There’s poetry here, in this lyrical, deeply human, fiercely feminist story. A book that burns brighter than even its title suggests.
— Nydia Hetherington, author of A Girl Made of AirAitken’s beguiling lyricism reminds us of the deeper truths that linger in the shadows of the riverbank, at the edge of the woods.
— Karen Powell, author of Fifteen Wild DecembersBright, bold and riotous . . . The prose is distinct and memorable from an author who is unafraid to breathe life and humanity into history and legend.
— Sophie Parkes, author of Out of Human SightA story of power and destruction, that surprised me at every turn . . . We need narratives like these, which bring the past to life in new ways and challenge us to think differently about women and their influence.
— India Rakusen, producerMolly Aitken gives a powerful voice to Alice Kyteler, weaving a haunting and lyrical story from the strands of history. This was a beautiful, fascinating novel about an extraordinary woman that will linger in readers’ memories for a long time after they finish it.
— Jennifer Saint, author of AtalantaAitken’s beguiling lyricism reminds us of the deeper truths that linger in the shadows of the riverbank, at the edge of the woods.
— Karen Powell, author of Fifteen Wild DecembersBright, bold and riotous . . . The prose is distinct and memorable from an author who is unafraid to breathe life and humanity into history and legend.
— Sophie Parkes, author of Out of Human SightBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!