‘In winter,’ said Merowdis, lost in her thoughts, ‘the wood is supposed to be asleep. That is what people say. But I don’t think it’s true. In spring and summer the trees and creatures are preoccupied.

Everyone is busy. In winter there is silence.’

There was silence. But not an empty silence.

‘In winter the wood is listening,’ said Merowdis.

The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke is a short fairytale-esque tale that is both poignant and enchanting. 

The woods are full of mystery and magic. The trees are alive and speak to us. Animals can talk and understand us in ways no human can. Merowdis Scot, at the tender age of nineteen, knows all this for she is not like other girls her age. More at peace in the woods than anywhere else Merowdis visits them, along with her two dogs, Pretty and Amandier and her pig Apple, as often as chance permits. On one such occasion she meets a blackbird and a fox who lead her to a strange figure who shows her a future that will change her life forever. 

After reading and utterly loving Piranesi by Clarke I was very much excited and curious as to what would come next from such a masterful author and so I jumped at the chance to read this. Initially I was surprised that this was a Christmas story, one that Clarke herself had read on BBC Four, but as soon as I began reading I knew this story would be just as mystical and full of vivid imagery as Piranesi was. This is a very quick read and as soon as I finished and read Clarke’s afterword, I read the story again to truly appreciate its many layers. In the afterword we are told of Clarke’s inspirations and what led her to writing about Merowdis’s journey, none of which I’ll spoil here, but I do encourage you to read it because it really does give insightful context. I will say one thing though, Clarke does state that this is set in the same world as Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel, which I haven’t yet read, so it’ll be interesting to come back to this once again after I have. 

Our setting is the crisp snowy woods where an otherworldly atmosphere permeates. The trees are more than trees and feel like ancient beings with a wealth of secrets and knowledge. Our main protagonist Merowdis is more attuned with animals than with her family, even her beloved sister, Ysolde. Our story is one of Merowdis wanting a child of her own, finding a home in the woods, her animals bringing her comfort and joy, being at one with nature, reconnecting, and leaving her unhappy life behind. In this sense The Wood at Midwinter can be seen as a fable, or it can even be viewed as a Christian allegory for the Virgin Mary, but in an unconventional way. There are tones of melancholy by the end, but there is also a sense of contentment and calmness. 

The illustrations by Victoria Sawdon add charm and enchantment to each scene. The way Clarke’s words swoop around the illustrations gives the sense of movement on the page, the icy wind blowing through the trees, the animals playfully moving through the snow, the fox and the blackbird lurking, waiting, until the dark figure appears. I love books with illustrations, they help to bring a story alive, to aid us in immersing ourselves into a different world, and that’s exactly what we get here.

I believe this tale can be enjoyed by both children and adults alike. It’s one to read with the whole family, curled up by the fireside, on Christmas Eve.

Review Copy gifted by Ros at Bloomsbury Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy.

The Wood at Midwinter is out now! You can order your copy on Bookshop.org