The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide: Hart, Emilia, Weyward. St. Martin’s Press, March 27, 2023. Kindle.

The historical fiction novel Weyward by Emilia Hart details the different ways men have abused women over the centuries. In the 1600s, Altha Weyward was put on trial for witchcraft after a man, John Milburn, died in a farming accident. In the early 1900s, Elizabeth Weyward Ayers died after doctors performed a hysterectomy to cure her mental illness. Her daughter, Violet Ayers, was raped by her cousin and almost forced to marry him when it was discovered she was pregnant. In 2019, Kate Ayers takes refuge in her great-aunt Violet’s cottage after she escapes her abusive husband, Simon. After learning the hardships her ancestors have suffered, Kate is strengthened to defend herself and her unborn child against Simon.

Hart weaves together the stories of Altha, Elizabeth, Violet, and Kate as she develops her story of feminine courage. Altha narrates her own story as she writes about how John came to be killed. Altha and Grace, John's wife, had been inseparable friends until Grace’s mother died under Altha and her mother’s care. Altha’s mother, Jennet, argued Grace’s mother had been too weak to survive, but Grace and her father believed she died as the result of Jennet’s tinctures. For that reason, the friendship between Grace and Altha ended.

Years later, after Grace was married, she came to Altha looking for a way to abort the baby she was carrying. John had beaten her when her previous babies were stillborn. She feared if the third was stillborn that he would kill her in his anger. Altha helped Grace and began to notice Grace frequently had bruises. She suggested they do something to end John’s life. Grace refused, believing they would both be suspected and killed. When Altha saw John abusing Grace while she was pregnant again, Altha visited the farm early one morning and sent her crow to work up the cattle so that they would stampede and kill John.

Violet and Kate, both ancestors of Altha, read Altha’s story when they found her book locked inside a bureau in the cottage. Violet has been banished to the cottage by her cruel father after her father invited Frederick, Violet’s cousin, to visit them. Frederick raped Violet. Violet was blamed for her pregnancy. Because Violet did not want Frederick’s child and did not want to be forced to marry Frederick, she found a recipe among her mother’s things for a potion that would cause an abortion. Violet went on to study entomology in college and became a respected scientist as she had always been her dream. Violet regretted that she never had a child of her own. She believed the Weyward line would end with her until she met her great-niece, Kate, and discovered Kate had the same affection for nature and insects that Violet did.

Violet left her cottage to Kate when she died, giving Kate a place to go to escape her abusive husband. As Kate researched her family’s history after she heard that one of her ancestors had been put on trial for witchcraft, Kate began to draw strength from the women who came before her.

Unfortunately, Simon locates Kate’s hiding place and comes after her. At first, Kate hid in the attic, afraid of what Simon might do to her and her baby. There, she finds Altha’s book in the bureau and reads her story while she waits, hoping Simon will leave. Armed with her new knowledge of her ancestors’ strength, Kate decides to confront Simon. As he pushes her against the wall with his hands around her throat, a swarm of crows and other birds burst through the windows of the cottage. They attack Simon, forcing him to let go of Kate. Simon lays on the floor with birds pecking his face and eyes. Kate orders him to get out of her house. He is later arrested and charged with aggravated abuse. With the help of her mother, Kate gives birth to a healthy baby girl who she names Altha Violet Weyward.