The Trial of Anna Thalberg is a tiny little powerhouse of a novel. The plot is straightforward—a woman is accused of witchcraft in Reformation Germany, her husband and a priest going through a crisis of faith try to save her, their efforts are futile, and she is burned alive. But Sangarcía’s writing, composition, and tone are what makes this book really shine. Through innovative storytelling mechanics, complex emotional worlds, and frenetic, propulsive prose, Sangarcía paints a tragic, compelling portrait of isolation, ignorance, misogyny, fear, and the immutable nature of the human soul.
The Trial of Anna Thalberg by Eduardo Sangarcía, (List Price: $22, Restless Books, 9781632063731, September 2024)
Reviewed by Charlie Marks, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia