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About the Book

Walwyk seemed a dream village to the new schoolteacher, Miss Mayfield. But dreams can turn into nightmares.

When it becomes clear that one of her pupils is being abused by her grandmother, Miss Mayfield is determined to do something about it. But Ethel won’t say anything, despite the evidence of Miss Mayfield’s own eyes, and someone seems to be actively discouraging her from investigating further. As she tries to get to the truth of the matter, however, Miss Mayfield stumbles on something far more sinister: Walwyk is in the grip of a centuries-old evil, and anybody who questions events in the village does not last long.

Death stalks more than one victim, and Miss Mayfield begins to realise that if she’s not careful, she will be the next to die...

First published in 1960, The Witches was made into a classic Hammer film in 1966, starring Joan Fontaine and directed by Cyril Frankel, who has written an exclusive foreword for this new edition.

About the Author

Peter Curtis is the pseudonym for Norah Lofts, a distinguished historical novelist whose books are still in print today. She died in 1983.

Title Page

PETER CURTIS

Foreword by Cyril Frankel

I entered the film industry soon after retiring as a major from the Reconnaissance Armoured Car Division. One of my earliest films, made in 1953, was Man of Africa, which was filmed in the hilly district of Kigezi in Uganda. It was the first film made with an entirely African cast. It was whilst I was in Africa that I saw firsthand the influence of witchcraft on the tribes I worked with during filming. I talked to village elders and learnt that they practised witchcraft in the event of domestic upheaval and conflict. As such it was part of their everyday life.

When I returned to England my agent Dennis Van Thal told me that the world famous actress Joan Fontaine had arrived in London with a script and was seeking a director, and that he had recommended we meet. Having been a passionate film goer since childhood, I had of course seen Joan Fontaine’s Oscar winning role in Rebecca, so I was honoured to have been considered. I cannot recall exactly what we talked about, but whatever it was we must have seen eye-to-eye because after the meeting Joan told Van Thal that she would be happy for me to direct The Witches. It was an incredible moment for me, especially as, until then, the one star I had worked with was Googie Withers, who was a delightful, relaxed actress.