Beyond the Witch Trials

Beyond the Witch Trials PDF Author: Owen Davies
Publisher: Manchester University Press
ISBN: 9780719066603
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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Book Description
Beyond the witch trials provides an important collection of essays on the nature of witchcraft and magic in European society during the Enlightenment. The book is innovative not only because it pushes forward the study of witchcraft into the eighteenth century, but because it provides the reader with a challenging variety of different approaches and sources of information. The essays, which cover England, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Germany, Scotland, Finland and Sweden, examine the experience of and attitudes towards witchcraft from both above and below. While they demonstrate the continued widespread fear of witches amongst the masses, they also provide a corrective to the notion that intellectual society lost interest in the question of witchcraft. While witchcraft prosecutions were comparatively rare by the mid-eighteenth century, the intellectual debate did no disappear; it either became more private or refocused on such issues as possession. The contributors come from different academic disciplines, and by borrowing from literary theory, archaeology and folklore they move beyond the usual historical perspectives and sources. They emphasise the importance of studying such themes as the aftermath of witch trials, the continued role of cunning-folk in society, and the nature of the witchcraft discourse in different social contexts. This book will be essential reading for those interested in the decline of the European witch trials and the continued importance of witchcraft and magic during the Enlightenment. More generally it will appeal to those with a lively interest in the cultural history of the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This is the first of a two-volume set of books looking at the phenomenon of witchcraft, magic and the occult in Europe since the seventeenth century.

Beyond the Witch Trials

Beyond the Witch Trials PDF Author: Owen Davies
Publisher: Manchester University Press
ISBN: 9780719066603
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 226

Get Book

Book Description
Beyond the witch trials provides an important collection of essays on the nature of witchcraft and magic in European society during the Enlightenment. The book is innovative not only because it pushes forward the study of witchcraft into the eighteenth century, but because it provides the reader with a challenging variety of different approaches and sources of information. The essays, which cover England, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Germany, Scotland, Finland and Sweden, examine the experience of and attitudes towards witchcraft from both above and below. While they demonstrate the continued widespread fear of witches amongst the masses, they also provide a corrective to the notion that intellectual society lost interest in the question of witchcraft. While witchcraft prosecutions were comparatively rare by the mid-eighteenth century, the intellectual debate did no disappear; it either became more private or refocused on such issues as possession. The contributors come from different academic disciplines, and by borrowing from literary theory, archaeology and folklore they move beyond the usual historical perspectives and sources. They emphasise the importance of studying such themes as the aftermath of witch trials, the continued role of cunning-folk in society, and the nature of the witchcraft discourse in different social contexts. This book will be essential reading for those interested in the decline of the European witch trials and the continued importance of witchcraft and magic during the Enlightenment. More generally it will appeal to those with a lively interest in the cultural history of the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This is the first of a two-volume set of books looking at the phenomenon of witchcraft, magic and the occult in Europe since the seventeenth century.

Beyond the Witch Trials

Beyond the Witch Trials PDF Author: Owen Davies
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780719066610
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description


Ritual Murder in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Beyond

Ritual Murder in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Beyond PDF Author: Eugene M. Avrutin
Publisher: Indiana University Press
ISBN: 0253026571
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 303

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Book Description
A collection of essays exploring the history of an antisemitic accusation that haunted Jewish people in Europe and Russia, and how it spread. This innovative reassessment of ritual murder accusations brings together scholars working in history, folklore, ethnography, and literature. Favoring dynamic explanations of the mechanisms, evolution, popular appeal, and responses to the blood libel, the essays rigorously engage with the larger social and cultural worlds that made these phenomena possible. In doing so, the book helps to explain why blood libel accusations continued to spread in Europe even after modernization seemingly made them obsolete. Drawing on untapped and unconventional historical sources, the collection explores a range of intriguing topics: popular belief and scientific knowledge; the connections between antisemitism, prejudice, and violence; the rule of law versus the power of rumors; the politics of memory; and humanitarian intervention on a global scale. “This important contribution to our understanding of the evolution of ritual murder charges in Eastern Europe brings together a number of innovative studies on the topic, several of which could become standard reading on the subject.” —Glenn Dynner, Sarah Lawrence College “While the topic was not exactly novel to me, I enjoyed reading this book and I was constantly learning from the significant new information and fresh insights from the authors’ analyses.” —Shaul Stampfer, Hebrew University

Writing Witch-Hunt Histories

Writing Witch-Hunt Histories PDF Author: Marko Nenonen
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004257918
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 234

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Book Description
The book gives an analytical review of the history of witch-hunt historiography. The history of the witch-hunt research gives understanding of cultural and academic trends which direct any research even when scholars are not cognisent of their underlying premises.

Witch Hunt

Witch Hunt PDF Author: Kristen J. Sollee
Publisher: Weiser Books
ISBN: 1633413349
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 262

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Book Description
“A transcendent travelogue that guides readers through the history, places, and people of several of the many witch hunts and how their legacy continues to impact us today.” —Pam Grossman, author of Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power Traveling through cities and sites across Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Kristen J. Sollée explores the places and people significant to the early modern legacy of the witch. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, a confluence of political, economic, and religious factors ignited a wildfire of witch hysteria in Europe and, later, in parts of America. At the heart of these witch hunts were often dangerous misconceptions about femininity and female sexuality, and women were disproportionately punished as a result. Today, this lineage of oppression remains a vital reference point in the fight for women’s rights—and human rights—in the Western world and beyond. By infusing an adventurous first-person narrative with extensive research and moments of imaginative historical fiction, Sollée (author of Witches, Sluts, Feminists) makes an often-overlooked period of history come alive. Written for armchair travelers and on-the-ground explorers alike, Witch Hunt not only uncovers the horrors of history but how the archetype of the witch has been rehabilitated. For witches are not just haunting figures of the past; the witch is also a liberatory icon and identity of the present. This paperback edition includes a new afterword by the author and an updated travel resources section.

Beyond Midnight

Beyond Midnight PDF Author: Antoinette Stockenberg
Publisher: Antoinette Stockenberg
ISBN: 0983416796
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 410

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Book Description
Salem. Will history repeat itself? In 1692, Salem, Massachusetts was the setting for the infamous persecution of innocents accused of witchcraft. Three centuries later, little has changed. Helen Evett, widowed mother of two and owner of a prestigious preschool in town, finds her family, her fortunes, and her life's work threatened -- all because she feels driven to protect the sweet three-year-old daughter of a man who knows everything about finance but not so much about fathering. Helen's feelings toward little Katie's handsome father are decidedly mixed, and it will take more than knocks in the night, perfumed air, and bone-chilling cold to convince her otherwise. Nathaniel Byrne is willing to consider Helen's advice and help. But he does it grudgingly, because the woman is by far the most determined, pushy force he's ever encountered. Recently widowed, tormented by the circumstances, and at sea about being a single parent, Nat is not inclined to hand over his daughter to just any preschool -- not when he has an accomplished, London-trained nanny who's more than willing to make those decisions for him. And the nanny herself? Peaches Bartholemew is as clever as she is beautiful, as efficient as she is soothing. Peaches can do anything. The trick, for Nat's dead wife, will be to keep her from doing it. Reviews "BEYOND MIDNIGHT has a terrific plot, a wicked villain, and a sexy hero. But the novel ventures beyond sheer entertainment, and it is easy to see why Stockenberg's work has won such acclaim. The theme and setting create a terrifying scenario, even without the supernatural elements: a chilling correspondence between the events of Salem's witch-hunting hysteria and contemporary allegations of ritualistic abuse in preschools. A good read that makes you think. Comes awfully close to—dare I say it?—literature." —Katherine Hennessey Wikoff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Entertaining and fun. BEYOND MIDNIGHT'S shining strengths are its insights into parenting and relationship issues, its brazen humor, its writing style, its to-die-for hero, its cunning villain, and its intriguing supernatural overtones." —Kristi Lyn Glass, editor, Gothic Journal “When it comes to unique, eerie and engrossing tales of supernatural suspense, author Antoinette Stockenberg is in a league of her own. BEYOND MIDNIGHT is a gripping and chilling page-turner outlining two families’ courageous battle against an insidious evil with a charming face. Outstanding reading!” —Romantic Times "Antoinette Stockenberg creates another winner with this fast-paced and lively contemporary romance with a touch of the supernatural thrown in to make an interesting storyline even more exciting. Contemporary romance at its best. Five stars." —Harriet Klausner, Affaire de Coeur "Ms. Stockenberg is a marvelous story teller who writes with humor, wit, and real experiences that we can relate to. Totally absorbing ... a superior tale with just the right combination of greed, hysteria, obsession and romantic passion. Spectacular! A terrific story that had me anxiously turning the well-written pages." —Literary Times "BEYOND MIDNIGHT is typical of Stockenberg's excellent paranormal romances, with extremely strong characters, and an intriguing and original plot." —Melinda Hughes, Gothic Journal "Helen Evett, owner of a thriving pre-school in Salem, becomes the object of a modern witch hunt that endangers her family, her business, and her enchanting newfound love. This is the sort of paranormal romance that draws you in—a believable, emotionally involving ghost story, with an appealing story of love." —B. Dalton's Heart to Heart "Meticulously researched and detailed, BEYOND MIDNIGHT brings Salem and its history to striking life. Antoinette Stockenberg, a premiere voice in paranormal, gives us yet another keeper." —Linda Opdyke, New Reality Reviews

The Story of the Salem Witch Trials

The Story of the Salem Witch Trials PDF Author: Bryan F. Le Beau
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1000861309
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Book Description
Providing an accessible and comprehensive overview, The Story of the Salem Witch Trials explores the events between June 10 and September 22, 1692, when nineteen people were hanged, one was pressed to death and over 150 were jailed for practicing witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. This book explores the history of that event and provides a synthesis of the most recent scholarship on the subject. It places the trials into the context of the Great European Witch-Hunt and relates the events of 1692 to witch-hunting throughout seventeenth-century New England. Now in a third edition, this book has been updated to include an expanded section on the European origins of witch-hunts, an updated and expanded epilogue (which discusses the witch-hunts, real and imagined, historical and cultural, since 1692), and an extensive bibliography. This complex and difficult subject is covered in a uniquely accessible manner that captures all the drama that surrounded the Salem witch trials. From beginning to end, the reader is carried along by the author’s powerful narration and mastery of the subject. While covering the subject in impressive detail, Bryan Le Beau maintains a broad perspective on the events and, wherever possible, lets the historical characters speak for themselves. Le Beau highlights the decisions made by individuals responsible for the trials that helped turn what might have been a minor event into a crisis that has held the imagination of students of American history. This third edition of The Story of the Salem Witch Trials is essential for students and scholars alike who are interested in women’s and gender history, colonial American history, and early modern history.

Documents of the Salem Witch Trials

Documents of the Salem Witch Trials PDF Author: K. David Goss
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1440853215
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 236

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Book Description
Through its extensive use of primary source materials and provision of explanations, this book places readers into the context of late 17th-century Salem to shed light on one of the darkest events in American history—the Salem witch trials. The Salem witch trials are one of the most fascinating events in American history. Despite being commonly covered in school curricula, the nature of the trials are often misunderstood. This book enables readers to get unique perspective and insight into the nature of this event through a representative selection of primary source materials, each of which is prefaced with explanatory editorial comments. The result is a work that clarifies the belief systems and religious and social culture of 17th century Massachusetts and places them into a comprehensible context to make sense of how the Salem witch trials came to happen. The book provides an introductory overview of the Salem witch trials, which is followed by an array of primary sources that tell the Salem story in the words of both the accusers and the victims of that episode. Editorial commentary accompanies each of the documents, placing it into its historical framework and clearly explaining archaic terminology and testimony. The primary sources used in this work are drawn from the vast archive of Salem witch trial sources, including court testimonies, court depositions, commentary from journals, miscellaneous court records such as arrest and death warrants, and writings by contemporary critics of the trials. This broad and balanced mix of documents gives students of the Salem witch trials a unique sense of the extent and impact of this event on the people of colonial Massachusetts as well as the complexity of the event.

Beyond The Mystic

Beyond The Mystic PDF Author: John Baird, Jr.
Publisher: Page Publishing Inc
ISBN: 1683486501
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 273

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Book Description
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Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Enlightenment

Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Enlightenment PDF Author: Michael R. Lynn
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000557456
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 229

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Book Description
Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Enlightenment argues for the centrality of magical practices and ideas throughout the long eighteenth century. Although the hunt for witches in Europe declined precipitously after 1650, and the intellectual justification for natural magic came under fire by 1700, belief in magic among the general population did not come to a sudden stop. The philosophes continued to take aim at magical practices, alongside religion, as examples of superstitions that an enlightened age needed to put behind them. In addition to a continuity of beliefs and practices, the eighteenth century also saw improvement and innovation in magical ideas, the understanding of ghosts, and attitudes toward witchcraft. The volume takes a broad geographical approach and includes essays focusing on Great Britain (England and Ireland), France, Germany, and Hungary. It also takes a wide approach to the subject and includes essays on astrology, alchemy, witchcraft, cunning folk, ghosts, treasure hunters, and purveyors of magic. With a broad chronological scope that ranges from the end of the seventeenth century to the early nineteenth century, this volume is useful for undergraduates, postgraduates, scholars, and those with a general interest in magic, witchcraft, and spirits in the Enlightenment.