In
a land of war, plague, political turmoil, and
fanatical witch-hunts, Grissel Jaffray, the Curewife, fights to survive.
This compelling story,
written as a fictional diary but based on the very few known facts about the life of a real
character, subtly embraces major historical figures and events. It
vividly depicts the effects on ordinary lives of Bannockburn and
Robert the Bruce, in the Wars of Independence, to Cromwell and the execution
of Charles the First in the English Civil War.
Grissel
begins her diary upon her arrival in Dundee as an innocent bride, intending to pass the story of her life and the lives of her
ancestors to her first-born daughter. Gradually, using other real characters
and events, the author develops a powerful narrative. As fear,
desperation and overwhelming horrors crowd in upon her, Grissel must use
all her blood-line's wisdom to survive. That blood-line is three
centuries old.
This book relates the
power of the gifts of healing and
great intelligence, and demonstrates the blessing and the curse of each
and both.