Author Anya Berman on the book that inspired her to write her own

When I read Burial Rites by Hannah Kent in 2014, it gave me the courage to write a novel about witch trials in northern Norway in the 17th century. At the time, I was living in Norway, and obsessed with researching these brutal witch hunts. I wanted to write a novel inspired by the true history but was afraid that readers would be horrified by such a dark story about the persecution of women set in a bleak northern landscape.

Burial Rites is a beautifully crafted historical novel about the last woman to be executed in Iceland. Hannah Kent’s characters are compelling and empathic while being historically faithful. The book was hugely successful, and seeing its popularity helped me take the plunge and change direction with my own writing. I had previously written novels published under my real name, Noelle Harrison. All these earlier novels touched on my purpose to raise the voices of women in the past, but after reading Burial Rites, I fully committed to writing about real female historical protagonists who were ordinary women, not necessarily queens or the privileged.

I was fortunate enough to meet Hannah Kent at an author event in 2016 and she encouraged me not to give up in my efforts to write about the witch trials in Vardø. I still adore her writing and find her novels inspirational with their blend of historical and, in her latest book Devotion, the supernatural. 

The Witches of Vardø by Anya Bergman (Manilla Press, €10.99) is out now.

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2024 issue of IMAGE.

IMAGE Summer 2024

The Summer issue of IMAGE is here, and we’re taking the longer days as an opportunity to slow down, take stock, and luxuriate in the lull that summer brings. From laid-back looks to in-depth reads, there’s everything you need to set you up for the season. Plus: * Warm-weather style * Boho is back * In studio with Irish designer Sinéad O’Dwyer * Career success stories * Growing and foraging * Women in music * Reframing divorce * Tackle your tiredness * Summer beauty favourites * Bringing the outdoors in * Irish eco escapes * Garden getaways * and so much more… 

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