Beyond the Witches' Circle: Struggle, rescue, survival, and love in nineteenth-century Tyneside Paperback – 13 Dec. 2017

This book is a historical novel based around the family history of the author. It is both a fascinating story and an informative historical record of people, places and life in Tyneside in Victorian times. It is meticulously researched including meteorological reports to give accurate information on the weather, and brief mentions for national events including the pit disaster at Abram in 1881, an assassination attempt on the life of Queen Victoria in 1882 and the curious fashion for date coffee.Almost all the characters are real people, mostly from the author’s family tree. Anyone who has done genealogical research will have unearthed anomalies or inconsistencies which raise intriguing questions as to what happened and why. The author has taken this to a higher level, and constructed a fascinating story around his family history, which is plausible but acknowledged as the invention of the author’s imagination. The story follows the life of Henry Scott from his illegitimate birth in 1857 to his marriage in 1882. Between these two events we are taken on a journey which exposes the darker sides of Victorian life in the treatment of women generally and unmarried mothers in particular, and the horror of ‘baby farming’ where illegitimate children were handed over to unscrupulous nurseries to be exploited for profit or worse. But we also learn about the pioneering work of Josephine Butler, a campaigner for the rights of women and children, and a tireless champion of social reform.Any social historian will enjoy this book, but it is worth reading even if you have no interest in such matters, but just enjoy a captivating story of struggle, survival and love in nineteenth century Tyneside.

I found this to be an intriguing novel with its mixture of fact and fiction. Based on research into the Scott family tree by the author, most of the characters are actual people many of whom he develops into credible and rounded individuals. I very much liked the central characters, Henry and Lizzie Jane, and in particular the delightful naivety of their earlier exchanges. Subsequently, however, the atmosphere darkens as the couple suffer the prejudices and hypocrisies of the time as their relationship develops. Indeed the author pulls no punches in describing the prevailing inequalities and injustices of the era. The action takes place in the Tyne Valley during the second half of the nineteenth century and the author’s detailed investigation into how it looked at that time, what was going on there and what was happening more widely in Victorian England, provides a realistic backdrop that allows the reader to step back in time. I am sure it could not have been an easy task, but Mark successfully puts the fictional flesh on the factual skeleton he unearthed to produce a thought provoking and enjoyable first novel. I am very much looking forward to the second.

Historical, and interesting

What a wonderful heart-warming story. Beautifully written and very evocative of the times and places in which it’s set. As a Geordie in exile it was lovely to be reminded of the beautiful villages and towns in the Tyne valley. I’m also very grateful to the author for introducing me to Josephine Butler. I’d never heard of this extraordinary woman and I’m now learning more about her life thanks to the helpful bibliography supplied by the author. This is one of the most enjoyable books I've read for years.

A story that transports you to the height of the Industrial Revolution in the North East. The descriptions of the area as it was and how it was developing are very realistic. Also highlighted were the social prejudices of the times. The characters and plot are brought to life.

Despite the title, the book is not about Witches but named after an ancient woodland area in a true North East England Village.I have to say I was hooked from page 1.The book made me feel as though I have walked the mid 19th Century streets of my Childhood Village and the neighbouring towns with every step of Henry & Lizzie Jane (the main characters). It offers a fascinating transport back in time where a very clever use of Fact & Fiction are combined to offer a fabulous read.I would recommend hiding yourself away with a cuppa and losing yourself into the times portrayed and then be Thankful to Josephine Elizabeth Butler for her insight & campaigning that resulted in the Rights we enjoy today.Thank You Mark for your first Novel, I look forward to more to follow. :-)

I was so disappointed when I finished the book, I could have read on ,it was so enthralling and kept you interested, I read the book in 3 days because I couldn't put it down. Mark has done a great job of researching the areas where the characters live, and I was so interested in places I hadn't heard of, and I grew up only a few miles away from Blaydon, So it took me back to my childhood days and made me homesick. Well done Mark I am really looking forward too your next one, and I am sure it will be just as good and interesting, pity you can only have 5* I would've given 10* A bit of drama romance and history, what more can anyone want

An enjoyable book, not only for the setting of Northumberland and Tyneside but also for the description of the plight of unmarried mothers and gender inequality in Victorian England.This novel also brings Josephine Butler to the fore. I had not heard of her until I read this book. I am interested to know more about her.

interesting read. good mix of history and fiction.