Cover of A Mirror for Witches

A Mirror for Witches

  • 1928 first published
  • 223 pages
  • 14 editions

A Mirror for Witches is a 1928 mythic fiction and witch fiction novel by Esther Forbes. It takes readers to Massachusetts and Salem in the Colonial period, ca. 1600–1775. Readers will find themes of Mass Salem, witchcraft, witches and Women.

24 Open Library readers have it on their want-to-read list. It has been published in 14 editions. On Project Gutenberg it was downloaded 745 times in the last 30 days.

At about 223 pages, most readers finish it in 4–5 hours. It is in the public domain in the United States and free to read on Project Gutenberg.

About A Mirror for Witches

"A Mirror for Witches" by Esther Forbes is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds in the context of witch trials and the dark machinations surrounding a character named Doll Bilby, a girl with a mysterious origin linked to witchcraft. The narrative explores themes of good versus evil, the perception of witchcraft, and the consequences of desperate choices in a world filled with superstition and moral conflict. The opening of the novel introduces the reader to the infamous Doll Bilby, whose life is intertwined with that of devils and dark arts, starting from her tragic beginnings as the child of witch parents burned in a holocaust. As the narrative progresses, we learn about her adoption by the kind-hearted Captain Jared Bilby, her struggles with a troubled and jealous stepmother, and her unsettling powers that spark fear and suspicion among those around her. The tension builds as Doll navigates the complexities of her identity and the dark consequences of her actions, setting the stage for a story steeped in folklore and the supernatural, addressing her inner turmoil and the perceptions of a society gripped by fear of witchcraft.
Summary from Project Gutenberg (automatically generated)

Themes, setting & tropes

Genres

Setting

Era

Subjects

  • Mass Salem
  • Salem, Mass
  • Trials, Witchcraft
  • Witchcraft
  • Witches
  • Women
  • Mystery & detective
  • Massachusetts
  • Historical fiction
  • Paranormal fiction
  • Salem, Mass., History, Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
  • Women, Massachusetts, Salem

Publisher

Quick answers

Who wrote A Mirror for Witches?

A Mirror for Witches was written by Esther Forbes and first published in 1928.

What genre is A Mirror for Witches?

It is usually shelved as Myth & Legend Fiction, Witch Fiction, Historical Fiction and Fairy Tales & Folklore.

How long is A Mirror for Witches?

The median edition has 223 pages, about 4–5 hours of reading at 250 words per minute.

Is A Mirror for Witches free to read?

Yes. It is in the public domain in the United States and can be read free on Project Gutenberg in EPUB, Kindle and HTML formats.

What books are similar to A Mirror for Witches?

Readers who like it often enjoy The Crucible, Deliverance From Evil and The Heretic's Daughter.

Books like A Mirror for Witches