Tuesday Bookclub: ‘City of Crows’ by Chris Womersley
Andrew Pople from Final Draft joined Nic to introduce ‘City of Crows’ – a compelling new work of historical fiction by award-winning Melbourne writer Chris Womersley. Womersley’s fourth novel is set in 17th Century France, occupying an exciting and unsettling world of superstition and witchcraft.
The story’s protagonist Charlotte Picot is forced to flee her village with her last remaining son after losing her husband and three of her children to the plague. On the road, her son is kidnapped by slavers and Charlotte is left for dead, only to be rescued by an old woman who nurtures Charlotte back to health with mystic natural remedies. The restored Charlotte is bequeathed the old woman’s book of knowledge, and begins her journey to Paris to find her son.
She’s joined by Adam du Coeuret – a recently released convict – who is convinced that Charlotte is in fact a witch.
Throughout the novel, Womersley skillfully weaves arcs of logic and magic, blurring the boundaries between reality and fantasy. Charlotte’s uses her new biological and botanical knowledge to exploit people’s superstitions, whilst Adam uses wit and charm to bend characters to his will.
The novel explores how superstition and magic played into people’s beliefs in 17th Century Europe, and how “witchcraft” could be a conduit for power, especially for women subordinated by the patriarchy.
