From 1563 to 1736 Scotland put thousands of women to death for witchcraft. Their supposed crimes have much to tell us about attitudes to women in the past, and in the present day. This book introduces sixteen women who lost their lives or lived in the long shadow of the persecutions.

'Witches' who, like MARGARET AITKEN, confessed, implicated others, even aided the hunters before they were burned.

Nonconforming women like MARY MACLEOD, who saw their reputations tarnished when they did not bend to society's expectations.

Creatures of the imagination, like Robert Burns's NANNY, who embody deep-seated associations between womanhood and the occult.

Weaving fiction with the facts where these are known, We Are All Witches invites the reader to explore the forces at work in one of the darkest episodes of Scotland's history and consider their echoes in the present day.

The voices of healers, seers and enchantresses have been hidden for generations. In this new collection from Mairi Kidd, their narrative is reclaimed as we delve into the world of women from history, mythology and folklore whose magical connections carved out a place for them as contemporary icons.

About the Author
Mairi Kidd is a former Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing at Creative Scotland. She was previously Managing Director of Barrington Stoke, a prize-winning publisher. A fluent Gaelic speaker, she has an MA in Celtic Studies from Edinburgh University. As CEO of Storlann, the National Gaelic Education Resource Agency, she worked with Scottish Government, Bord na Gaidhlig and local authorities. Mairi is a contributor to BBC Radio nan Gaidheal's books coverage and writes for broadcast, including Gaelic comedy series FUNC.

Reviews
Springing directly from the pioneering Witches of Scotland campaign, Kidd has imagined lively and convincing voices from the past to commemorate the lost lives of Scotland's witches, reminiscent of Jenni Fagan's Hex. * Sara Sheridan, author of The Fair Botanists *
We Are All Witches is a compelling, moving book that invites the reader to consider not only the background to the Scottish witch trials and the mythology surrounding witches, but also the lives of those affected. * Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women *



Book Information
ISBN 9781785304132
Author Mairi Kidd
Format Hardback
Page Count 224
Imprint Black and White Publishing
Publisher Bonnier Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 815g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 194mm * 24mm