The Witch Diggers
by Jessamyn West
Nomination: National Book Finalist 1952
Date Read: August 17, 2021
The older I get, the more I enjoy older novels. Here is no exception. Known for Friendly Persuasion, West takes on the Conboy family who are superintendents of the Poor Farm. Why they have to actually call it a Poor Farm is beyond me. The father, Link, having failed at being a lawyer and feeling the need to “atone” for sins in his past, takes on the management of the Poor Farm against the protestations of his family, particularly his wife Lib.
With their son and two daughters, Dandie, Cate and Em respectively, the characters and personalities they are exposed to at the farm are a constant source of strife for Lib. Dandie ends up marrying one of the girls residing there, who was an unwed mother, although not really due to any sin on her part. Cate is just coming into her own and is of a marriageable age with many suitors to show for it. The youngest, Em, is an odd bird and marches to her own drummer.
From the beginning, I loved Cate’s character but by the end of the novel I began to despise her. She makes so many forehead-slapping choices that it boggled my mind. At a party, she meets Christie, a man that seems perfectly made for her. He courts her and falls in love with not just her, but her entire family as well. Her family, in turn, adore Christie. A local boy, Ferris, is from a well-to-do family and has eyes for Cate as well. Over time, Christie proposes to Cate and she accepts.
After a series of unfortunate events, Cate calls off her engagement and I am still unsure of the answer. Because she was afraid of being too happy? Of enjoying the physical aspect of love too much? Of believing Christie an impractical choice? I really just don’t know. She ends up marrying Ferris, a totally vanilla boy with limited horizons and a penchant for ownership of his woman. To say this decision turns out poorly is an understatement.
In one last gasp to save herself from a fate more miserable than death, Cate summons Christie in the hopes that he can rescue her. Christie has long-since moved on and is in love with and plans to marry his cousin (eww!) Sylvy. He agrees to meet with her under the pretense that Cate is simply asking for his advice. Of course, we really know what’s on her mind. His responding to her request for a visit turns out tragically.
As for the witch diggers, they are a brother/sister pair that are just odd. James and Mary dig and dig and dig. They are unsure exactly what they are digging for but strongly believe “it” can save humanity and bring happiness to mankind. When defied, they give ominous responses like “you’ll be sorry.” This leaves the reader wondering if they put a hex on the Conboy family for all the anguish they go through to the end.
I absolutely loved this novel and have a hankering to read Friendly Persuasion even though it’s not on my list. I have seen the movie from 1956 with Gary Cooper and have always been charmed by it. I’m sure the book is 10 times better, which it usually is.
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