Ireland, 2018

The entirety of The Witch Elm occurs in an unnamed city in Ireland. The allusion to Howth Head (a peninsula near Dublin), however, heavily implies that the novel takes place in a suburb of Dublin or in Dublin itself. Irish history and culture are a significant backdrop for the narrative, as it relies heavily on the perhaps stereotypical theme of luck. Tana French also makes reference to Irish independence movements and other moments in Irish history (and European history more broadly) to contextualize Toby's experiences.

Ivy House

Ivy House was built by Toby's great-grandparents, and has been occupied by the Hennessy family ever since. Toby and his cousins frequented Ivy House during their childhoods. Ivy House is in the city, but appears separate from the city because of its insulating structure which seems to isolate it from its urban environment. When Ivy House is first introduced, it appears...