Story of young woman accused of witchcraft wins $100,000 book award
Bernice Barry felt different growing up. She gifted that difficult experience to the protagonist of her book, The Names of a Hare, which just won the ARA Historical Novel Prize.
Australian author Bernice Barry has been awarded the $100,000 ARA Historical Novel Prize for her book The Names of a Hare. The novel follows the story of an unnamed woman in 17th century Cornwall, a time when witches faced persecution. Barry, 73, drew inspiration from her own experiences as a neurodivergent woman, who felt out of place in society.
She crafted the character with traits she recognized in herself, including neurodivergence, shyness, and a fear of being accused of witchcraft. The judges lauded the novel for its "work[ing] like a spell, building slowly and imperceptibly," describing it as a novel of quiet power that lingers in the mind. Barry's book was brought to more readers after winning the top prize, fulfilling her desire to connect with her audience through the magic of storytelling.
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