The devil in Massachusetts

This historical narrative of the Salem witch trials takes its dialogue from actual trial records but applies modern psychiatric knowledge to the witchcraft hysteria. Starkey's sense of drama also vividly recreates the atmosphere of pity and terror that fostered the evil and suffering of this human tragedy.

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LibraryThing member EmScape

Religion is dangerous. So are teenage girls. This seems to be the main theme of this book. Starkey has gathered myriad sources on the Salem Witch Trials and managed to put together a cohesive account which is neither dry nor dense. Though written in 1949, it is comprehensible to the modern reader

and also fascinating. Starkey has taken great care not to fabricate action or dialogue in order to add drama to her tale; she hardly needs to. She has copied entire sections of dialogue from court reports and detailed diaries of eyewitnesses to the trials.
Starkey also claims in her introduction that she has tried to apply some 'modern psychology' to the major players in the conflict, but I saw little evidence of that. There was definitely some borderline personality disorder among the 'afflicted girls,' most notably Abigail Williams.
Overall, an engaging and informative non-fiction work.

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LibraryThing member CarlaR

In all honesty, even though this book has some great facts about the early 1690's I have to say that it was hard to read. For some reason my mind kept wandering as I was reading it. There were also certain things about the witch trials (and which I believe were the main motivation of them) which

are barely given mention in this book. A good factual read.. a boring book in totality.

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LibraryThing member jwhenderson

This is a riveting account of the Salem Witch Trials. Marion Starkey has just the right amount of detail to portray all the elements of this horrifying story. From the hysteria spun out of fanaticism to the economic and social background that provided a fertile ground, the events unfold in a way

that kept this reader spellbound. There may be more recent accounts that cover more details, but this is the classic telling of this tale of witchcraft and evil.

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LibraryThing member freddiefreddie

Starkey uses the now rather dated technique of Freudian analysis (which she cops to right in her title) to inspect the hysteria surrounding the Salem witch trials of 1692. Whether or not this was an appropriate way to study a sordid tale from Puritan times (I don't believe it was), I got the

feeling she was trying to inject drama into a story that already had plenty of drama. I would have gotten more out of it had she talked more about the link between Puritans and their homeland of England, and the demons and spirits they brought with them overseas.

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LibraryThing member sgerbic

Reviewed July 2006

I never really knew much about this subject but felt I should get some background also it appears to e a required book for SJSU in the colonial history class. I found this book to be very difficult to read not because of the writing style but more because it was extremely

difficult to believe that people could be so stupid. They even hung the “guilty” based on no evidence at all. Also difficult to follow are the Quaker names, tons of Mary’s throughout the story, Also the author uses Goody a lot, I think it is a term like Mr. or Mrs. probably has something to do with the word ‘godly’. This is a good book to explain the situation so it is understandable. i would have like a hand-out with the main characters on it just so I could go back and reference them as they enter and exit the story. To imagine that what happened here is mile compared to what Europe had already gone through is difficult to fathom.
16-2006

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LibraryThing member Devil_llama

A modern look at the Salem witch trials. First written in 1949, there is nothing about this book that feels dated except the typeface. The author writes history that reads like a novel, and even though it is a history that many have written before and since, she still brings a new voice and some

new information. The dry wit and frequent use of what can only be read as sarcasm actually enhances the book. She focuses a great deal more on the character of the 'witches' than on the accusers, but she does spend a little time building up the tale to its onset with the first calling out of a witch, perhaps with a bit more interpolation than is acceptable in a purely scientific or historical work, as she makes assumptions about what is going through the mind of young Abigail Williams. After the first chapter, though, she pieces together most of her information from the copious records kept of the hearings, the diaries of people in the town, and other contemporary sources, only occasionally straying inside the psyche of the long-dead, and then usually with a disclaimer about what they "might" be thinking or feeling. Overall, a decent way to spend a few days of my reading time.

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LibraryThing member LibraryCin

3.25 stars

This book was originally published in 1949, and looks at the trials of the Salem witches in 1692.

The book was pretty good. Unfortunately, it just didn't make me want to pick up the book and keep reading. There were times when it was just a little dry for me, even though I am interested in

the topic. There are just so many people and events (and accusations!) to keep straight! I think the research was very well done, though.

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LibraryThing member LilyRoseShadowlyn

A new and refreshing look into the Salem Witch trials. Starkey creates a whirlpool that quickly sucks the reader into the hysteria and fear of the New World at a time when witchcraft was a legitimate fear. Unlike "The Crucible" "The Devil in Massachusetts" takes a much closer look at the likely

underlying causes that led to the horrific trials and executions. Come along for the ride from start to aftermath as the Puritans give in to their worst fears.

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LibraryThing member deckla

This must be the research Miller used for his play, since it was first published 1949.

Fewer