The Wise Woman: A Novel

Philippa Gregory

May 2008 · Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

#1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory weaves an unforgettable tale of a young woman’s sorcery and desire in Henry VIII’s England, where magic, lust, and power are forever intertwined.

Growing up as an abandoned outcast on the moors, young Alys’ only company is her cruel foster mother, Morach, the local wise woman who is whispered to practice the dark arts. Alys joins a nunnery to escape the poverty and loneliness she has felt all her life, but all too soon her sanctuary is destroyed. King Henry VIII’s followers burn the holy place to the ground, and Alys only just manages to escape with her life, haunted by the screams of her sisters as they burned to death.

She finds work in a castle not far from where she grew up as an old lord’s scribe, where she falls obsessively in love with his son Hugo. But Hugo is already married to a proud woman named Catherine. Driven to desperation by her desire, she summons the most dangerous powers Morach taught her, but quickly the passionate triangle of Alys, Hugo, and Catherine begins to explode, launching them into uncharted sexual waters. The magic Alys has conjured now has a life of its own—a life that is horrifyingly and disastrously out of control.

Is she a witch? Since heresy means the stake, and witchcraft the rope, Alys is in mortal danger, treading a perilous path between her faith and her own power.

Ratings and reviews

'The Wise Woman' is a gripping novel written wonderfully by Philippa Gregory. Set in the times of King Henry VIII, where treason and treachory were very strict upon the leadership of King Henry VIII and were many times followed by the death penelty, whcih often involved burning, drowning and many other horrific torture methods. Witchcraft was the most common cause in the 16th century for the number of deaths that occured each year. Witchcraft is a common theme running throughout this novel. Alys, who escaped from her well educated background in the nunnery due to a fire turns in on Morachs cottage, which is dirty and flea ridden.Morach, considered to be a wise woman uses extravagent witchcraft to predict the future for a young attractive skillfull Alys. Alys, carrying the guilt with her since leaving her mother in the fire, has decided to follow Morachs skills as she feels she can no longer be at peace with God. Alys is then transfered to a castle owned by Lord Hugh and his young son Hugo and wife Catherine who has failed to concieve a son. I believe that this mirrors the King Henry and his failng marriage with queen Katherine of Aragon and his future wife Anne. WHo is also accused of witchcraft such as Alys. 'The Wise Woman' is a captivating fictional novel with some truthful historical background such as King Henry and the annulment of his wife Katherine, provoking in a mistress, his future wife Anne Boleyn. The end of this novel is quite disturbing but very captivating and was wonderful to read. It shows that the errors in your life cannot be fulfilled with other peoples wants and needs and your own deepest desires if your guilt is overshadowing them, ALys cannot block out her guilt of Mother Hilderbrandes death and will soon result in an ill fated ending.

The Wise Woman

About the author

Philippa Gregory is the author of many New York Times bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl, and is a recognized authority on women’s history. Many of her works have been adapted for the screen including The Other Boleyn Girl. She graduated from the University of Sussex and received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she is a Regent. She holds honorary degrees from Teesside University and the University of Sussex. She is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff and was awarded the 2016 Harrogate Festival Award for Contribution to Historical Fiction. She is an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck, University of London. She was awarded a CBE title for services to literature and charity in 2022. She welcomes visitors to her website PhilippaGregory.com.