Dive into the chilling tale of The Lancashire Witches, a richly imagined narrative centered around the infamous figures of Demdike, Chattox, and Alice Nutter. These historical characters haunted the Lancashire region near Pendle Hill and the Forest of Bowland in the early seventeenth century. While Ainsworths portrayal may be steeped in fiction, the witches themselves were real individuals caught in a web of societal turmoil. The story weaves through the dissolution of Whalley Abbey and the influential families of Assheton, Braddyll, and Nowell, culminating in the dramatic trials and executions at Lancaster Castle in 1612. (Summary by Andy Minter)