The appearance of Geillis Duncan as a character in the popular TV series “Outlander” reminded me of a story I wrote some time ago.
The persecution of women throughout history by powerful men without repercussions invokes a sense of injustice. The witch hunts of the 16th century in Scotland were driven by superstition and insecurity. The arrest and trials of of witches and warlocks was supported by King James VI who was convinced that witchcraft was responsible in an attempt to kill him by creating a storm at sea that almost capsized his ship. A teenage maid servant, Geillis Duncan, was one of the first to be accused and subsequently executed.
Read my short version here.
James McEwan 