The Cunning Woman’s Cup is such a rich and layered read, I
hardly know where to start. In any other hands, the complex structure and
stories within stories might have lacked cohesion but Sue Hewitt asserts
herself from the onset as a writer who is in complete control of her craft. I
was in her thrall from the very first page.
The story, on the surface, is a simple one – the tale of two
elderly women, Alice and Margaret, who meet by chance and forge an enduring
friendship. The story ripples out from the two women, however, and incorporates
other stories of people whose lives interconnect with theirs. The story is set
mainly in the village of Duddo in Northumberland, where a stone circle
overlooks the village, lending a mysterious and spiritual atmosphere. The ‘cup’
of the title is unearthed which leads to the past impinging on the present and
setting in motion dramatic changes.
Alice and Margaret are polar opposites. Alice has been
widowed after a long and happy marriage and has spent her life caring for
others. She is a traditional woman and fears ideas that challenge her Christian
way of life. Margaret, by contrast, is an independent, spiky retired professor,
who never married, choosing instead to travel extensively. One of the most
enjoyable and life affirming aspects of the novel is the fact that Alice is in
her late 60s and Margaret in her 80s but they still live full and exciting
lives. There is not even a whiff of a stereotypical elderly person in this
book, Hewitt’s senior citizens are all full of passion and zest for life.
The novel concerns itself with both spiritual and everyday
issues. Alice’s traditional views are shaken by the arrival in the village of
Avian, a psychic healer. Many people in Duddo, including Alice’s late husband
hold pagan beliefs, celebrating the land and nature as represented by the stone
circle. I found Hewitt’s exploration of grief and the afterlife to be
particularly poignant.
At the same time, Hewitt highlights many modern dilemmas,
not least the way in which elderly people can often be ignored and lonely. She
also depicts the differences between rural and city life and how seeming
success can bring hollow rewards as people try to buy happiness. We also see
how young people can become lost without guidance and purpose. Hewitt touches
on several very relevant social issues in a way that is both realistic and
moving.
The structure of the novel is very interesting and clearly
demonstrates Hewitt’s skill as a writer. Each chapter begins with a first
person account from Mordwand, an ancient Celt who is the ‘Cunning Woman’ of the
title. She survives being aborted and abandoned before being taken in by the
old medicine woman who performed the abortion. Ironically, she then takes over
from the woman as an abortionist and healer. Mordwand’s angry spirit lives on
amongst the stones with terrible consequences for one family in particular. After
the short account from Mordwand, Hewitt switches to 3rd person
narrative, which allows her to develop all of the characters in her novel
equally. In addition to this, some of the story is also told via letters sent
between Alice and Margaret.
I loved this novel and found myself totally immersed in the
life of Duddo, so much so I felt almost bereft when I finished it. It is a
warm, deceptively cosy read which snakes its way into the reader’s heart,
raising some provocative philosophical questions.
Sounds intriguing, I think this is going to be added to my TBR :) Great review.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful, Cathy, I loved it. I read it as part of Rosie's review team :D
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of this book, always like a bit of magical stone circles.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed it, Rosie and can't recommend it highly enough :D
DeleteAbsolutely not up my street, apart from the Northmberland aspect but I'm glad you found a surprise gem - that's lovely, isn't it? Fabulous cover :)
ReplyDeleteIt really was a surprise gem, Terry. I knew nothing about the book until I opened it and I was captivated from the very first page to the last :D
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