The Mercies

De: Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Narrado por: Jessie Buckley

After the men in an Arctic Norwegian town are wiped out, the women must survive a sinister threat in this "perfectly told" 1600s parable of "a world gone mad" (Adriana Trigiani).
Finnmark, Norway, 1617. Twenty-year-old Maren Magnusdatter stands on the craggy coast, watching the sea break into a sudden and reckless storm. Forty fishermen, including her brother and father, are drowned and left broken on the rocks below. With the menfolk wiped out, the women of the tiny Arctic town of Vardø must fend for themselves.
Three years later, a stranger arrives on their shore. Absalom Cornet comes from Scotland, where he burned witches in the northern isles. He brings with him his young Norwegian wife, Ursa, who is both heady with her husband's authority and terrified by it. In Vardø, and in Maren, Ursa sees something she has never seen before: independent women. But Absalom sees only a place untouched by God, and flooded with a mighty evil. As Maren and Ursa are drawn to one another in ways that surprise them both, the island begins to close in on them, with Absalom's iron rule threatening Vardø's very existence.
Inspired by the real events of the Vardø storm and the 1621 witch trials, The Mercies is a story of love, evil, and obsession, set at the edge of civilization.One of the Best Books of the Year USA TodayGood Housekeeping

Reseñas de la Crítica

"This chilling tale of religious persecution is served up with a feminist bite . . . . In clean, gripping sentences the author is wonderfully tuned to the ways and gestures of a seemingly taciturn people."—Kirkus Reviews

"Hargrave spares the reader no gory details, whether of birth, miscarriage or the scent of a body burning at the stake. The Mercies is among the best novels I've read in years. In addition to its beautiful writing, its subject matter is both enduring and timely. . . . Four hundred years after the events The Mercies portrays, we need stories . . . to remind us of the dangers of being swept up in a maelstrom of demagogy. For such a novel to center on a cast of powerful women characters seems as appropriate to its historical context as it is to our time."—Emily Barton, New York Times Book Review

"Elegant and chilling . . . an absorbing account of women finding power and grace and love even under the most harrowing circumstances."—USA Today

"The Mercies smolders more intensely than a pyre, whirling history's ashes defiantly into the wind."—NPR.org

"Spun from real-life events, this lyrical novel charts the aftermath of a fatal storm in a 17th century Norwegian fishing village: a town almost exclusively composed of women and girls, and the violent witch-burning newcomer hell-bent on their conversion."—Vanity Fair

"The Mercies took my breath away. A beautifully rendered portrait of a community, a landscape, and a relationship. I read it with equal parts hope and dread. Kiran has masterfully built up an incredible claustrophobic atmosphere, shot through with delicate intimacy."—Tracy Chevalier, New York Times bestselling author of Girl With a Pearl Earring

"I loved The Mercies. It opened up a completely new chapter of history to me, and I loved the way it told its story in such beautiful language. I won't forget this story of these women in a Norway I knew little about. A searing historical novel."—Naomi Wood, author of The Hiding Game and Mrs. Hemingway

"Every once in a while, a modern day parable, perfectly told, reflects all that could happen in a world gone mad. Kiran Millwood Hargrave has written a novel for our times with artistry and skill."—Adriana Trigiani New York Times bestselling author of Tony's Wife and Kiss Carlo

"Kiran Millwood Hargrave's wonderful The Mercies is a mesmerizing, heart-wrenching novel which had me desperate for the women of Vardo to win through. A perfect book club choice."—AJ Pearce, author of Dear Mrs. Bird

"A book not only for our times but for any time in which people have loved and raged and wondered if there was more. Millwood Hargrave is a whirlwind, storm-building talent."—Daisy Johnson, author of Everything Under

One of the Best

I listened straight through over two days. It was so interesting to hear about life in Norway in the 1600s and how society reacted when tragedy strikes a small community. I will listen again.

Well done but not for everyone...

Atmospheric.
Well written.
Perfect narration.

The author paints a realistic portrayal of life in 17th century northern Norway at a time when "witch trials" were held throughout christendom.

This book won't be for everyone. The pace is slow, only picking up speed near the end as tension builds and finally a climax is reached with a dramatic ending.

Powerful and chilling

First off I loved the narrator. Her voice was soft, raw, addicting, and I could listen to her all day. Beautiful voice for the story. Even the way she said certain words made me love her.

As for the book it was great. It was dark, perfectly paced to give you time to really feel the story, and historically accurate from what I understand to be true. It felt real. I could imagine the characters and their homes and the land. I wanted to know more about the people and their way of life from so long ago. Some people said this book was too slow but I absolutely loved that about it. It was slow in a way that kept me hooked like it was meant to be something you don’t rush. Very well written.

So Well Done

This book is so well done and just so disturbing and heartbreaking. Another group of people, predominantly women and indigenous, dominated by men who wished to glorify themselves and their religion. It’s an age old story… and brought fresh by this author’s telling. Very painful. And so emotionally wrenching and well written. And the narrator is beyond amazing and just perfect for this book. Well done all!

Beautifully written and told

A hauntingly beautiful story of human behavior in the tides of social change, encompassing a full spectrum of emotion from doubt to love, hatred to joy. A must for those interested in the downfalls of patriarchy, Christianity, and binary thinking.

Gripping

Couldn’t stop listening. A fabulous book. Well recorded. Highly recommended especially for history buffs and those interested in the voices often unheard.

Loved this!

It was difficult to get into because it takes place in the early 1600s in Norway, I had to look a few things up. I switched back and forth between the audiobook and a hard copy from my library. The audio was the game changer because it helped me follow what was going on. The plot surprised me in a few spots, and kept me interested until the very end! Definitely recommend

Loved !

Well written, beautiful story. If you like historical fiction you will enjoy this book greatly

True story, fascinating.

This is a fascinating story. Based on real events. The book was slow but it is worth the read.

Brilliant

Perfect narration. Easily in my top ten list. Atmospheric, and heart-wrenching take on the limited choices of women during the period in which the story is set. Beautifully written characters. Demonstrates the lengths men will go to keep powerful women in their place.