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The Merrybegot

3.52 of 5 stars 3.52 · rating details · 1,362 ratings · 178 reviews

This is the story of Nell who lives with her grandmother, the local cunning woman and healer, in a west country village in the seventeenth century. When one of the minister's daughters falls pregnant she and her sister attempt to conceal it by accusing Nell of putting a curse on them. The witchfinder general, Matthew Hopkins, is called in and in an atmosphere of fear, the...more

Paperback, 288 pages

Published February 3rd 2006 by Oxford University Press (first published January 1st 2005)

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Oct 28, 2008 Lizzie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Essentially, this is a young-adult blend of the Salem witch trials and a fantasy-creatures book. (In England, not Salem, but a Puritan witch hunt all the same.) Since it begins as a straightforward-seeming historical novel, I was really surprised when the fantasy element was introduced, when it became clear that the mentions of "piskies" and "fairymenchildren" were real and not just excuses for old-timey dialogue. At first this was exciting, but ultimately I think the blend is really really awkw...more Essentially, this is a young-adult blend of the Salem witch trials and a fantasy-creatures book. (In England, not Salem, but a Puritan witch hunt all the same.) Since it begins as a straightforward-seeming historical novel, I was really surprised when the fantasy element was introduced, when it became clear that the mentions of "piskies" and "fairymenchildren" were real and not just excuses for old-timey dialogue. At first this was exciting, but ultimately I think the blend is really really awkward. I wouldn't guess that, for example, a scene in which a teenage midwife attends to the delivery of a fairy birth could be so boring. Maybe this is just because by chance I read this book immediately after Elske, but I saw the main drive of the plot coming as soon as I read the dustjacket. I'd put forth a theory that midwives should soon be off-limits subjects for historical fiction, in the "not trying hard enough" category, except that it was one of my favorites as a young adult reader (Karen Cushman anyone?) and also it can be quite powerful when utilized well for plot or atmosphere.

HEY LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT. I have to explain something. Here's a synopsis of part of the story: There's a pregnant girl. Her family's Puritan. So the pregnant girl comes to the midwife protagonist to say, I really need this to stop and I think you can help. And the midwife is like, ok I believe you, and yes I have "old ways" that will help you out of this, let me do that right now. And the girl says, OMG thank you. And the midwife says, wait a minute, is there a small chance that this conception occurred on this particular day that is special to my pagan beliefs? And the girl is like, I have no freaking clue which day it was, so maybe yes. And the midwife is like, well, I have to change my mind now, because my traditional religion prevents me from harming this child if it is sacred in this way, as ending the pregnancy would go against nature. EVEN THOUGH I truly think that your father might murder you as soon as he realizes you've shamed him, I've gotta rescind this offer. And since I am the NICE character and you are the MEAN character, the story indicates this is 100% the right thing to happen!

Because then, for the remainder of the story, this pregnant girl is the villain. The midwife protagonist continues to enjoy her magical pagan beliefs, they are portrayed to the reader as sweet and natural and earthy and we learn more about them. We hear things like "Whatever is set in motion once ... the Powers [are] summoned is meant to be... I knew that your coming was inevitable." Their description of their faith in their customs sounds exactly like how contemporary fundamentalist Christians describe their beliefs, but here it is meant to be lovely and folksy -- and factual. The story rewards the midwife's decision because when the baby is born, it is indeed a sacred child as suspected and given special mystical treatment by "the Powers" just like she said. See, isn't it good she didn't help the girl get an abortion? THAT BABY COULD END UP PRESIDENT.

How do your free-spirited non-Christian protagonists end up more conservative than THE PURITANS? What's most frustrating is that I think this is all completely accidental on Julie Hearn's part. Biographical facts seem to indicate she's not intentionally putting across an anti-abortion screed; she has a masters degree in women's studies from Oxford, and references her research of feminist criticism. And I don't think she meant to portray an informative, cautionary story of how all types of ideologies can lead to suppression of women's freedom. MOST LIKELY, she is just an author who is simply thoughtless in her pursuit of style. I think Julie Hearn just likes fairies. What a disappointing reason to let girls down.(less)

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Jan 30, 2011 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, teen-fiction, fairies, magic, witches

Interesting look at the 17th century witch trials in England. The book does a good job of showing how hysteria can grow and mob mentality can make otherwise sane people turn against those they have known their entire lives. Nell and her grandmother have served and protected the community their entire lives and at the first sign of trouble they are turned upon.

Hearn does a good job of weaving historical persons and events into the storyline - Charles II and Matthew Hopkins the witch hunter. The E...more

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Jul 06, 2010 Anne Broyles rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was an excellent audio read and as usual, it is hard to separate a tremendous actress' vocal interpretation of the two main characters from the words Julie Hearne actually wrote. I felt so drawn to 17th-century England, a time when Puritanism battled "the old ways." Protagonist Nell has learned healing and spells from her grandmother, the "cunning woman" for a small village. She is a sweet soul who does no harm, but in her refusal to help Grace, one of the village minister's daughters abort...more

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Dec 17, 2009 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As I have already mentioned my interest in witches and wizards, it is only appropriate that I relate my very strong interest in the real historical "witches" of America - The Salem Witches. I love reading all kinds of material on the Salem Witch Trial: non-fiction, fiction, articles, plays, etc. The Minister's Daughter (though it is placed in seventeenth century England)does not disappoint. It is more of a fiction that actually historically and factually based. It adds a bit of fantasy to the eq...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Ally rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

This is one of those books that I bought YEARS ago at a second hand store. You know the type. Where there's a sign that says "5 books for $1" and you grab whatever looks halfway interesting, in the hope that you will eventually get around to reading it. I didn't for a few years. And I am REALLY mad at myself, because this book is an absolute treasure. In the first place, the witch trials have always been of particular interest to me. In the second place, as I believe I have mentioned, I love the...more

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Oct 11, 2010 Erica - Bonner Springs Library rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 2006

This book is another young adult novel that I'd seen at the library. The description of it really intriqued me. It's about two girls in England in the mid-1600s, one who is a "healer" and the other is a minister’s daughter who accuses the "healer" girl of being a witch. It was a really fascinating book and I had a hard time putting it down when I first started reading.

It also sparked my interest once again about the Salem Witch Trials, I was so fascinated by them when I was in junior high and h...more

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Oct 05, 2008 Jamie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 14-16, historical, fantasy, witchcraft, great-ending

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 19, 2009 Yvonne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen-recs, teen-mystery, historical-fiction-for-teens

Nell is a wild child. Conceived on May Morning, she is claimed by the piskies and faeries as a merrybegot, one of their own. She is the village cunning woman's granddaughter: herb gatherer and healer, spell-weaver and midwife...and, some say, a witch.

Grace is a Puritan minister's daughter: beautiful and refined, innocent and sweet-natured...to those who think they know her. But she is hiding a secret -- a secret that will bring everlasting shame to her family should it ever come to light.

A merry...more

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Jun 26, 2010 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book, but it was really good. It's set in the early 1600s, and it follows two girls: Nell, the Merrybegot child (conceived on May Morning) and granddaughter of the cunning woman (midwife, herb lady, etc), and Grace, the daughter of the minister. Grace finds herself with child after frolicking in the woods with the butcher's son, who refuses to stand by her. She goes to the cunning woman for something to take care of it, but she is not there. Nell ref...more

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Nov 01, 2009 travelmel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

This was a GREAT book. I give it 4.75 stars. I will do a review of it another time as my daughter is reading it now and I want to talk with her about it and then will do my review.

There were great themes to discuss in a book club or scholastic setting, IMO.

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Jul 29, 2012 Jen McConnel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nell is a Merrybegot: a child conceived on May Day. Children like her are sacred to nature, and it's true that Nell leads a charmed life for a time. But then a new Puritan minister comes to town, bringing fire, brimstone, and two sneaky daughters. When Nell refuses to help the oldest daughter, Grace, rid herself of an unwanted child, Grace decides to get even. She and her sister stage demonstrations of possession, whipping the town and their father into a righteous frenzy. A Witch Hunter is call...more

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Aug 24, 2010 joy *the clean-reader extraordinaire* rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, pg, uk, ya-fiction, fairies

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 05, 2009 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-fiction, historical-fiction

While Hearn’s story is slow in parts and slightly predictable until the end, she also tells a realistic picture of what life was like during that time period, with witch hunting being a popular sport and accusations running rampant. Through Grace, teens will see how the witch hunting gave people a license to kill those they were frustrated with or disliked. The fantastical creatures of Hearn’s story may have been on the minds and beliefs of the people of that time, but Hearn’s brings them to lif...more

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Feb 12, 2009 Tina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books, young-adult

The story of Nell, the granddaughter of a midwife "the cunning woman", and two sisters, Grace and Patience. Part of the story is told from the perspective of Patience, many years after the story takes place. This was a fantasy story in that Nell interacts with the "piskies" and "faeries" and they in turn aid her, but it is also historical because it shows what life was like for midwives at that time in England and the accusations and judgments enacted upon those that they thought were witches....more

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Apr 30, 2009 Alan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book after reading The Heretics Daughter, an Historical Novel based on the Salem Witch Trials. I loved how this book based, mostly, in Old England intertwined people of Puritan beliefs, along with people who, while they go to church on Sunday, still dance around the Maypole and refer to baby's about to be born as "pot lids" so the piskies don't steal the newborn baby away. I also liked the fact that these piskies and fairy's do exists and play an important role in the book. Finally I...more

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Feb 25, 2009 Elizabeth C. added it

Shelves: books-for-curse-fans

(This is the UK version/title for this book, which was published in the US as THE MINISTER'S DAUGHTER. I've listed this version because of the Michael Frost cover.)

Another book featuring haunting cover art by Curse photographer Michael Frost, Julie Hearn’s début novel is set against the backdrop of witch hunts and the English Civil War. Three young women find themselves caught up in a web of magic, witchcraft, and violence, with potentially tragic consequences. Watch for the appearance of Englis...more

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Mar 09, 2010 Kristi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 30, 2010 Lbrignac rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have to say this is one of my least favorite books. I found The Minister’s Daughter somewhat challenging to read. With the structure of the book transitioning between the confession of Patience Madden, one of the Minister’s daughters, and dated chapters in third person, I never could get a grasp on what was happening in the story. Thankfully, the second half of the book became somewhat of a page turner and the storyline began to make sense. Before reading this book, I would suggest one have ba...more

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Feb 25, 2009 Elizabeth C. added it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-for-curse-fans

(This is the newer US cover for this book, which was published in the UK as THE MERRYBEGOT.)

Another book featuring haunting cover art by Curse photographer Michael Frost, Julie Hearn’s début novel is set against the backdrop of witch hunts and the English Civil War. Three young women find themselves caught up in a web of magic, witchcraft, and violence, with potentially tragic consequences. Watch for the appearance of English faerie folk, and learn the meaning of this book’s original UK title: T...more

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Jun 14, 2010 Alexa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fantasy lovers

Nell is a merrybegot a child sacred to nature. Her mother is dead, her grandmother is the village's cunning woman.
Nell must learn the ways of healing, deal with the Madden girl's lying and take care of her dun chicken.

Life is normal, until the witch catcher comes to town. He accuses her grandmother and she dies soon afterward. Nell then meets a young man and saves him using fairybaby caul.

Nell is then accused of witchcraft herself...

This was a really good book but it took me a while to read it....more

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Nov 10, 2010 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is not what I expected to say the least, which is a good thing. When I picked it up I had no idea it had anything to do with the witch trials. I loved Nell, and I hated what Grace did to her. I thought Grace was a evil spiteful creature who was always used to getting what she wanted.
I find it interesting how everyone thing Patience is dumb or slow because she doesn't speak much. But she watches everything. Sure in the end she gets it wrong, but Grace does get her what's coming to her...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Aquila rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who like historical fiction... yeah.

Shelves: 1600s-and-1700s, love-story

We read this in English class, and I wanted to hate it, but I loved it. The writing style was good, but looking back, it was quite... un-advanced. But whatever. I guess I've got into more YA books, and this is probably for 11-12 year olds. But more mature 11-12 year olds, what with the frolicking and stuff. Still, the book was good, and the chapters alternated between POV's, which was in interesting change to a lot of books out there. Patience's POV was kind of sensitive, almost childish and pre...more We read this in English class, and I wanted to hate it, but I loved it. The writing style was good, but looking back, it was quite... un-advanced. But whatever. I guess I've got into more YA books, and this is probably for 11-12 year olds. But more mature 11-12 year olds, what with the frolicking and stuff. Still, the book was good, and the chapters alternated between POV's, which was in interesting change to a lot of books out there. Patience's POV was kind of sensitive, almost childish and pretty religious (she is a Puritan, daughter of the minister, so she has to be religious). I don't know if it was the font that made it so, but it seemed more delicate.

Nell's chapters (written in the third person) were more... normal. More crazy and weird stuff happened, like the piskies and fairies. I prefered those, mostly because I am not a fan of delicate, girly stuff. Patience's chapters were, as I mentioned, delicate and girly.

I'm weird in the way that I always like the characters who are meant to be disliked, like Gale from The Hunger Games (in Mockingjay, he is portrayed as kind of evil and bad, but I still think he's better than the forceful Peeta, who forced the love between Katniss & him... well, that's what I think). I didn't like Nell that much, and actually, Grace was kind of annoying, and Patience was... weird. The minor characters are just kinda neutral in my mind. But when Matthew Hopkins came in, I was like 'OH YEAH!' because he is just so awesome. He's supposed to be evil, but we all like an evil character sometimes, don't we? He was evil, but so... likeable! Well, I liked him. He has got something about his attitude that is like 'I want to be him'.

OK, that sounded like a weird fangirl... adoration of him. But, like, I'm not IN LOVE.

This review is turning into a NON-review. I will get back to talking about the book.

Overall, the book is great. The ending wraps up everything more than perfectly, and all the loose ends are thoroughly tied up. It's really great. The last sentence is also amazing. I won't spoil anything (reviews with spoilers annoy me sometimes) for you, just read it, if you want an exciting, interesting tale to pass some time. This story requires no thought, unless you want to be immersed in the well-crafted world. I give it 5/5!(less)

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Nov 10, 2011 Judy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What does the 1645 puritan minister of an English village surrounded by piskies and fairies do when his eldest daughter's May frolicking with the blacksmith's son (who left unexpectedly for the army) leaves her with a bloating problem in the stomach region? He calls in the witch finder and goes after the midwife and cunning healer's granddaughter who obviously has placed a spell of the devil on the innocent girl.

I'm a fan of historical fiction -- and I suppose that this could almost fall into t...more

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Feb 11, 2011 Logan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed-library, ya-historical-fiction

First impressions: The book introduces us to two different perspectives from the start: one is the young Nell, granddaughter to a local healer, in 1645 England; the other is Patience, younger sister to Grace, daughter of the town minister, who writes her own account of the events from 1692 Salem. I liked this alternating style, which added a level of deception and spite to the unfolding accusations of witchcraft.

I was also immediately taken with the voices of the girl Nell and the woman Patienc...more First impressions: The book introduces us to two different perspectives from the start: one is the young Nell, granddaughter to a local healer, in 1645 England; the other is Patience, younger sister to Grace, daughter of the town minister, who writes her own account of the events from 1692 Salem. I liked this alternating style, which added a level of deception and spite to the unfolding accusations of witchcraft.

I was also immediately taken with the voices of the girl Nell and the woman Patience. Hearn does a great job of establishing the stubborn ignorance of Nell, and the woeful remorse of Patience. These contrasting views only add to the heartbreak we know is coming.

Lasting impressions: I was quite taken by surprise with the amount of magical wonder throughout the book. The townspeople are new to the Puritanical religion, and are hesitant to completely disregard the paganism that has been a large part of their lives. Hearn takes this belief and spins it as truth, with the characters interacting with fairies and little creatures called "piskies." It is fanciful and yet confusing. Are we readers to believe these creatures exist? Or are these the imaginings of a simple people who are not able to make sense of the world around them? I'm not sure what the intent was, but it was still delightful to read.

Conflicting impressions: That said, some of the longer scenes with the fairies and piskies didn't feel like they belonged in this tale. The shorter sightings and interactions were much more effective for me. Though Nell goes through a long sequence to obtain an item that becomes incredibly important later in the book, while I was reading it I couldn't figure out the point of that scene and it frustrated me as a reader.

Overall impressions: This is the kind of story that resonates with me. The "witchcraft" that so many women were said to practice in the 1600s was typically nothing more than pagan ritual, and oftentimes accusations flew to draw attention away from themselves or to act out against the repressive male hierarchy. The mass hysteria that fuels this hunt for wrongdoing and scapegoats turns my stomach, and insults my sense of justice in the world, so I was quite taken with the subject matter.

Here, a minister's daughter discovers she is pregnant, is rebuffed by her lover, and decides to start acting possessed as a way to cover her tracks. Nell despises the haughty attitude of Grace, and refuses to give her an abortifacient when she realizes that the baby may be a "merrybegot" like herself - a sacred child of nature. So begins the quest for revenge, with Grace providing more and more nails in Nell's withcraft coffin, and poor Nell unable to see how her pagan rituals are only adding fuel to the fire.

These events are also told retrospectively by Patience, Grace's sister, who is in the midst of her own witchcraft trial in Salem some 40 years later. By her admittance that Grace is only pretending, we can only read on in horror as Nell and her grandmother are persecuted by their peers. It is a quickly moving tale with depth of feeling and carefully layered expositions into the actions of the main players. We soon realize that Grace and Patience's father, the minister, may be more complicit than first assumed, and that other characters may not care whether or not Nell is actually innocent.

I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, particularly those with an interest in the witch hunts. Although the primary narrative is not concerned with the trial, it is a fascinating study of how these types of charges were set up and delivered with the kind of one-two punch that can only result in a knockout. These women had no chance to refute the charges against them, completely oblivious to the danger approaching as they went about their daily lives. The book also speaks to the benefits of doing what is right no matter the cost, as you never know when your actions may come back to help or haunt you.(less)

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Jan 03, 2011 Kiara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 11, 2009 Trish added it · review of another edition

"The Minister's Daughter" is another story of how the Salem Witch Trials happened.
It's about a teenage girl Nell who lives in a village and is learning how to be a midwife/healer from her grandmother who is the “cunning woman" in the village (that’s what the people call her)
Her grandma has helped the people in the village and the Faries/creatures in the village for a long time but now she’s old and kinda losing her mind and Nell has to help her and will soon take over for her.
Nell meets this gi...more

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Dec 11, 2009 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, for-children, historical-fiction, 2009, review

Review from Badelynge
It is Spring 1645 and the first English Civil War is drawing to its inevitable close. King Charles I holds onto his freedom by a thread with his loyalist supporters holding only small pockets of the Midlands & North Wales with his son (Charles II to be) hiding out in the West Country (Cornwall). Matthew Hopkins, self-styled Witch-finder General plies his lucrative and deadly business stirring the countryside to find and nail any suspected of using the Dark Arts. Against...more

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Apr 09, 2011 Sally rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: witch-trials, fairies-and-similar, 1600s, ya, small-town, country-england

Phew, good stuff! I do so enjoy Julie Hearn - it's funny though that this was the first book of hers I ever bought, yet much the last to be read. The size (large hardcover) and plain cover (lack of dustjacket) did possibly have something to do with that; I tend to be a bit of a snob when it comes to books' looks.

(view spoiler)...more

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Apr 21, 2009 Steph Su rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The novel is enthralling and enchanting, hard to put down once you start. In the English country in the seventeenth century, Nell lives with her wisewoman grandmother, the town herbalist, midwife, and spellbringer. Nell is a Merrybegot, a child sacred to nature, born on May Morning. She likes to frolic and hates restraint, which the new minister has brought down upon the town.

The minister’s eldest daughter, Grace Madden, is a beautiful, proud, conniving girl. After a secret affair with the black...more

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Oct 29, 2008 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: drama, historical-fiction, history, paganism, teen

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was a great little book. It was a fast read, easy but not simplistic.

Nell is the granddaughter of the local midwife/cunning woman, and is also a Merrybegot, a baby conceived at one of the pagan fire festivals. She lives with her granny in a small English village in the 1640s. Whoops. Not the best time to be an herb mistress.

The minister, a foul, unpleasant and generally despicable man, has two daughters who are horrible each in her own way. Grace, and the younger, Patience, plot to make t...more This was a great little book. It was a fast read, easy but not simplistic.

Nell is the granddaughter of the local midwife/cunning woman, and is also a Merrybegot, a baby conceived at one of the pagan fire festivals. She lives with her granny in a small English village in the 1640s. Whoops. Not the best time to be an herb mistress.

The minister, a foul, unpleasant and generally despicable man, has two daughters who are horrible each in her own way. Grace, and the younger, Patience, plot to make the townfolk think they've been cursed by Nell and her granny to cover up the fact that Grace got herself knocked up and to cast the blame elsewhere. Typical.

The plot is straightforward--Nell and her granny live simply and peacefully, practicing the old ways in secret, protected by the piskies because Nell is a Merrybegot and thus special to all nature. In come the new minister and daughters with their unbending and intolerant ways and shatter everything. They turn the village against Nell and Granny with the exception of Mistress Bramstow, a brave and honorable woman who won't let mass hysteria and stupidity sway her.

For a teen book, I thought it went surprisingly in depth with some of the characters. The author did a good job capturing the utter frustration and helpless fury many good people must have felt during the witch craze. I was furious at Grace for being a horrible, evil girl, but I think I was even more angry at Patience. She was stupid and naive since she was just a child, but she KNEW what was right and wrong, and chose to do nothing about it. She could have stopped the whole thing at the start and didn't because she was totally cowed by her sister and father. How many times this scenario must have played out during the witch craze! :(

Nell's story turned out a little better than thousands of other similar stories, but she didn't emerge unscathed. The fact that she wanted still to be a healer and midwife is, to me, a sign of what a pure and good person she is. I would have a hard time wanting to help anyone after going through what she had, all for naught.

All that said, I still didn't start crying until the stupid chicken at the end went back to the cottage. That got me bawling like a baby. Poor stupid chicken.

I know little about Edward II so I couldn't say how well his character was portrayed. But ultimately it doesn't matter if it was accurate or not. All that matters is that in this book, he was a wonderful, brave lad.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, Wicca, or faerie tales. Like I said, it was a fast, easy read but was in no way simplistic or silly. (less)

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