Katharina Kepler

Katharina is a widow at the time this novel opens in the early 1600s. She is outspoken and outgoing which is how she becomes Simon's friend. She is intelligent but not educated. She cannot read or write, but she has children who have done well for themselves. Her husband, Heinrich, left home repeatedly to join the military. She followed and forced him home at least once, but he left home again and never returned. She raised four children to adulthood, including a son named Heinrich who died early. She is knowledgeable about herbs and plants and has an affinity with animals (especially cows). When she is first accused of being a witch, she does not realize the severity of the situation. Her tendency to be outspoken apparently makes some people dislike her, which adds to the number of people willing to testify against her.

She is fairly...