From the Bookshelf of Retro Reads…

The White Witch

Elizabeth Goudge

Start date: October 20, 2017

Finish date: November 19, 2017

Discussion leader: Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂

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Oct 20, 2017 Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

The blurb on the back jacket of my copy threw me for a bit & I enjoyed the book far more when I realised this wasn't a historical romance in the conventional sense of the genre. While many characters have their turn centre stage, the main character is actually Froniga, the "White Witch" of the title. My jacket gives the impression the heroine is Jenny, one of the many magical children that Goudge created over the years.

The start of the story was quite wonderful, if somewh ...more

34 likes · Like · see review

Nov 12, 2009 Hannah rated it liked it

Shelves: historicals, 2010-reads

This is a beautifully evocative novel that is lyrical in places, contemplative, and altogether lovely. Goudge's sense of place is wonderfully explored through her writing style. Her religious philosophy is laid out with a deft hand, but is never heavy handed. I loved her characters, especially her depiction of the gypsy peoples. Most of her characters were multi-layered, and you always felt like they were more then just black and white, but all the shades of grey that make up the human condition ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Oct 27, 2017 Judy marked it as did-not-finish · review of another edition

Gave up on this one - I remember enjoying Goudge as a youngster, but I was just finding the writing style too long-winded and sentimental. I might try another book by her, though, as I don't think this is one of her best. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 29, 2013 Theresa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, english-lit

"The White Witch" is set during England's civil war period. It is a book of contrasts; gentry and servants, well-born and gypsies, a white witch and a
parson, a black witch and an itinerant painter. Within each character's story are struggles, human suffering, and choices to be made that all contribute to a satisfying (and in some cases, unexpected), ending.

Froniga (the gypsy name for “Veronica”) is the white witch in the story. Her love interest, Yoben, is fighting for the Royalist cause, while ...more

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