The Errors of Dr Browne was written by South African author, Mark Winkler, and published in August this year by Penguin Random House. It is set in 1662 in Bury St Edmonds, where two widows are charged with acts of witchcraft in what was England’s last trial of this nature.
The novel centres around Doctor Thomas Browne, a philosopher, author, natural scientist, logician and medical doctor, who is called upon to act as both inquisitor and witness at the trial. A role that his biographer later wrote was ‘the most culpable and stupid action of his life.’
An acclaimed author, Winkler penned several well-known works, including An Exceptionally Simple Theory (of Absolutely Everything), Wasted, (published internationally as My Name is Nathan Lucius), The Safest Place You Know, Theo & Flora and Due South of Copenhagen. Admittedly, I haven’t read any of them, but I’m pleased that this was the one that landed in my lap, as The Errors of Dr Browne is reportedly his best yet.
A friend asked why she should be interested in a witch hunt that happened in 1662. Well, in The Errors of Dr Browne, Winkler offers a rare and very real glimpse of the smallmindedness and sheer spitefulness that plagued communities, and particularly women, at the time. A time when people were absolutely dominated and subjugated by bizarre religious creeds, and when the power of patriarchy reigned supreme and controlled every aspect of womanhood. Remnants of which are still visible to this day all over the world.
Even a learned and educated scientist like Dr Browne found himself conflicted by his religious beliefs versus his confidence in the validity of emerging scientific methods. The reader is afforded a snapshot of the uncertainty and confusion that pervaded societies at the commencement of the Scientific Revolution, as the learned classes grappled with the opposing concepts of science and church. The trial and its outcome left Dr Browne despondent, questioning the true nature of culpability – and whether the most insidious evil is, in fact, that which we carry within.
Winkler gives us a first-person perspective of Browne’s involvement in the trial through a ‘memoir’, and he complements this with voguish details which lend a certain authenticity and verisimilitude to the novel. Even the prose is old-fashioned and reminiscent of what I would imagine was typical of the 16th century, though still easy to follow. Interestingly, Browne was a significant contributor to the English language, and many of the words he introduced still form part of the modern English lexicon. Winkler highlights these throughout the text.
Given a look behind Browne’s proverbial curtain, we develop sympathy and even fondness for the man. He seems to have been a rarity for his time, one who valued women, loved his strong-willed wife deeply, and had a deep appreciation for the inherent power and beauty of the feminine. He was astounded by women’s inner strength even when faced with the most egregious circumstances and extreme malice. On this occasion, left starving, naked and cold in the darkest of holes, all designed to break their spirit before the trial got underway.
Winkler captures the period beautifully and, in amongst the atrocities and absurd wickedness, he adds liberal sprinkles of sharp humour, tenderness, human frailty and myriad delightful moments.
It’s a testament to the author’s skill that he succeeds in whisking us back nearly four centuries so convincingly, but also highlighting societal issues of the time that still resonate with us today.
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