Hour of the Witch Summary
Chris Bohjalian

Hour of the Witch Overview

Chris Bohjlian's novel, Hour of the Witch, is the story of Mary Deerfield, a young woman married to a cruel man, Thomas Deerfield, in Boston in the mid 1600s. Thomas's actions drive Mary to take the extreme step of filing for divorce, but the magistrates rule that she must return home. As the situation escalates, it seems someone is using witchcraft against Mary. She stands trial for her life. The night after she is sentenced to death, Mary learns the truth – that Thomas's daughter has been trying to kill her father for the abuse she suffered at his hands. The novel's main themes are gender roles, the effects of gossip, and superstition.