Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Penguin Classics (2014), 321 pages
Description
"Chilling real-life accounts of witches, from medieval Europe through colonial America: from a manual for witch hunters written by King James himself in 1597, to court documents from the Salem witch trials of 1692, to newspaper coverage of a woman stoned to death on the streets of Philadelphia while the Continental Congress met, The Penguin Book of Witches is a treasury of historical accounts of accused witches that sheds light on the reality behind the legends. Bringing to life stories like that of Eunice Cole, tried for attacking a teenage girl with a rock and buried with a stake through her heart; Jane Jacobs, a Bostonian so often accused of witchcraft that she took her tormentors to court on charges of slander; and Increase Mather, an exorcism-performing minister famed for his knowledge of witches, this volume provides a unique tour through the darkest history of English and North American witchcraft."--Publisher.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member ivydtruitt
THE PENGUIN BOOK OF WITCHES is a fascinating look at the belief in witches and witchcraft via actual historical documents. From the court records to writings by King James I, the skeptic Reginald Scot, and the Puritan minister George Gifford is a wealth of information for anyone interested in the
Each section is headed by a brief synopsis that also includes historical details and facts. Ms. Howe looks at the truth behind these trials and the varied driving forces behind them. Women were especially singled out for numerous reasons. Misogyny was rampant in these trials.
There were also people like Reginald Scot who was, in comparison, an enlightened man in a time of darkness. Scot saw the trials for what they were and in his work, THE DISCOUERIE OF WITCHCRAFT-1584, points out the bias of the trials. The accused were usually marginalized on the fringes of society for a wide variety of reasons. Scot turns the tables on believers claiming their faith is what should be in question as they ascribe God like abilities to individuals.
King James I’s DAEMONOLOGIE-1597 promoted both the belief in witchcraft and the persecution of witches. It’s believed he wrote it in response to skeptics like Scot. This wasn’t exactly an era of free speech. It wasn’t always wise to go against the monarch.
George Gifford’s, A DIALOGUE CONCERNING WITCHES AND WITCHCRAFTES-1593, hopes for people to renounce the trials as being the work of Satan. The trials, turning neighbors against each other, were playing right into Satan’s hands. He wanted his congregants to look to saving their own souls.
In addition to these scholarly writings are the actual trials themselves. The Salem witch trials, while the best know perhaps, were not the only ones. Included are trials from England and other United States trials. Reading the transcripts is quite fascinating and honestly, mind boggling. The societal, religious, and superstitious beliefs that allowed these travesties to occur are explained thus assisting the modern reader in understanding the circumstances that allowed these claims to be given any credence.
The After Salem section contains apologies from Samuel Seawall-January 14, 1697 and the Apology of the Salem Jury-1697. In addition it includes Robert Calef’s, MORE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD-1700. Calef criticized Cotton Mather and questioned the Salem trials. Increase Mather actually held a book burning of Calef’s work. Also featured are a few cases that occurred after Salem including a poisoning in New York, New York. After Salem is followed by an extensive Notes section.
While reading I was so glad that we, as a society, had come so far from these dark ignorant days. Yet when I finished and looked around at the state of the world today it also struck me how, regrettable as it is to admit, so much is still the same.
For those interested in the facts about this sad chapter of our history, THE PENGUIN BOOK OF WITCHES, is an excellent source.
Reviewed for Miss Ivy's Book Nook & Manic Readers
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facts about the belief in and persecution of witches.Each section is headed by a brief synopsis that also includes historical details and facts. Ms. Howe looks at the truth behind these trials and the varied driving forces behind them. Women were especially singled out for numerous reasons. Misogyny was rampant in these trials.
There were also people like Reginald Scot who was, in comparison, an enlightened man in a time of darkness. Scot saw the trials for what they were and in his work, THE DISCOUERIE OF WITCHCRAFT-1584, points out the bias of the trials. The accused were usually marginalized on the fringes of society for a wide variety of reasons. Scot turns the tables on believers claiming their faith is what should be in question as they ascribe God like abilities to individuals.
King James I’s DAEMONOLOGIE-1597 promoted both the belief in witchcraft and the persecution of witches. It’s believed he wrote it in response to skeptics like Scot. This wasn’t exactly an era of free speech. It wasn’t always wise to go against the monarch.
George Gifford’s, A DIALOGUE CONCERNING WITCHES AND WITCHCRAFTES-1593, hopes for people to renounce the trials as being the work of Satan. The trials, turning neighbors against each other, were playing right into Satan’s hands. He wanted his congregants to look to saving their own souls.
In addition to these scholarly writings are the actual trials themselves. The Salem witch trials, while the best know perhaps, were not the only ones. Included are trials from England and other United States trials. Reading the transcripts is quite fascinating and honestly, mind boggling. The societal, religious, and superstitious beliefs that allowed these travesties to occur are explained thus assisting the modern reader in understanding the circumstances that allowed these claims to be given any credence.
The After Salem section contains apologies from Samuel Seawall-January 14, 1697 and the Apology of the Salem Jury-1697. In addition it includes Robert Calef’s, MORE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD-1700. Calef criticized Cotton Mather and questioned the Salem trials. Increase Mather actually held a book burning of Calef’s work. Also featured are a few cases that occurred after Salem including a poisoning in New York, New York. After Salem is followed by an extensive Notes section.
While reading I was so glad that we, as a society, had come so far from these dark ignorant days. Yet when I finished and looked around at the state of the world today it also struck me how, regrettable as it is to admit, so much is still the same.
For those interested in the facts about this sad chapter of our history, THE PENGUIN BOOK OF WITCHES, is an excellent source.
Reviewed for Miss Ivy's Book Nook & Manic Readers
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LibraryThing member jcozart
This is the author's dissertation on the trials in Salem. This gives the reader the historical background and insight into the culture of that time surrounding the trials. This book should be read first before reading her other works , in order, to understand the underlying themes of her novels. If
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one likes the genre of magical reality in fiction, you will enjoy reading this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Mishker
"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." This one phrase from Exodus has shaped the lives of countess people throughout history, especially women. The Penguin Book of Witches is a non-fiction account of Witchcraft from medieval England to the new Colonies. Shedding light on the evolution of the
The Penguin Book of Witches examines historical documents and transcripts with explanations for each occurrence within its historical context. While I enjoyed reading about the Salem trials, more interesting to me were the people tried before the hysteria. In enjoyed reading these first hand accounts, even as the Old English threw me for a few loops, I definitely needed to keep flipping back to the notes section, but there was a lot of good information back there. Whenever I read about witchcraft, I am always amazed at some of the parallels to persecution of women today. Among the similarities of the women accused were women of poor economic standing, women who were seen as attempting to gain power or women who practiced medicine. Hopefully we can learn from the past and those who call us "nasty women" today won't begin the craziness again.
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trials of the witches themselves to the spread of fear in the new world, this is a comprehensive view of just how witches were accused and tried in the words of the accused and afflicted. The Penguin Book of Witches examines historical documents and transcripts with explanations for each occurrence within its historical context. While I enjoyed reading about the Salem trials, more interesting to me were the people tried before the hysteria. In enjoyed reading these first hand accounts, even as the Old English threw me for a few loops, I definitely needed to keep flipping back to the notes section, but there was a lot of good information back there. Whenever I read about witchcraft, I am always amazed at some of the parallels to persecution of women today. Among the similarities of the women accused were women of poor economic standing, women who were seen as attempting to gain power or women who practiced medicine. Hopefully we can learn from the past and those who call us "nasty women" today won't begin the craziness again.
Show Less
LibraryThing member LoriFox
The Penguin Book of Witches by Katherine Howe starts out strong with an interesting introduction and list of suggestions for further reading. The author is a descendent of three accused Salem witches, and her novel The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane is one of my favorites.
This non-fiction book
While reading I quickly got bored and skimmed through the first part of the book, mainly focusing on the introductions that summarized each individual recounting. The Salem and After Salem sections were much more interesting, and I read them in their entirety. It is telling that it took me a little over a year to finish the book, as after a while the accounts became tedious.
The end notes are interesting and often include links to the original documents via the University of Virginia’s online Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project.
The book is definitely a good source for research projects, and an important source for preserving the often spotty record of a small handful of women and some men who were accused, arrested, tried, tortured, and often executed as witches for daring to be different, to be other, to fall out of favor in a small community, in the name of religion.
This non-fiction book
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covers biblical witches, a handful of English and Scottish witch trials and documents pertaining to witches and witchcraft, and then in more detail and number witches and witch trials from early Colonial America to the infamous witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, to a time period after Salem though 1813. Interestingly, it contains an anecdote from an anti-Federalist paper published in 1787 during the Constitutional Convention regarding the still present belief in witches, which led to an older women being stoned to death in the streets of Philadelphia in 1786. It ends with a brief history of Moll Pitcher, 1738-1813, a cunning woman and fortune teller much respected internationally and often consulted in Lynn, Massachusetts. In as much as the introduction sets the stage, the book just ends with Moll’s story, followed by end notes. I wanted a closing note or epilogue from the author. While reading I quickly got bored and skimmed through the first part of the book, mainly focusing on the introductions that summarized each individual recounting. The Salem and After Salem sections were much more interesting, and I read them in their entirety. It is telling that it took me a little over a year to finish the book, as after a while the accounts became tedious.
The end notes are interesting and often include links to the original documents via the University of Virginia’s online Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project.
The book is definitely a good source for research projects, and an important source for preserving the often spotty record of a small handful of women and some men who were accused, arrested, tried, tortured, and often executed as witches for daring to be different, to be other, to fall out of favor in a small community, in the name of religion.
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LibraryThing member AngelaJMaher
It was fascinating to read actual accounts written about the witch trials, and some other events involving the accusation and persecution of witches, during this time frame (1582-1813). At times the style was meandering or dry, but nonetheless, this is a true window into the past. Each piece has an
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introduction that gives clearer context and/or meaning, which is very useful. It is extraordinary to read the beliefs and actions of the people involved, and to see the hints of what was really behind at least some of these activities. Show Less
LibraryThing member asukamaxwell
Like Penguin's "Book of Magic", it's a nice collection of primary sources with helpful explanations and context. However, this does not cover all European witch crazes, it focuses strictly on later witchcraft trials in England and America. We see the work of William Perkins, a Cambridge Puritan,
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who imported Continental beliefs about witchcraft to England and directly influenced colonial Puritans. In fact the "Tryal of Witches" at Bury St. Edmunds in 1662 admitted spectral evidence or dream/vision evidence as a legal argument, which of course determined the conduct in Salem. The latter half of the book provides primary documents or excerpts for the Salem witch trials, but the Salem witch trials weren't the only cases in America.While the majority of cases did occur in various places around Massachusetts, the earliest recorded case appears in Virginia in 1626. There are trials in New York and an outbreak in Connecticut as well. It becomes obvious that trials occurring across the pond had a direct affect on the colonists. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ghost_Boy
This book is not fiction. What you'll find are actual documents and commentary on witch trails mostly in New England during the 1600s. I know people might find this book boring, but I'm highly interested in this topic and was hoping to find a book like this with documents. Helps steer away the
How did they start and why did it spread? That's one question I have about the Salem Witch Trails. I use to care about the witchcraft, but learned it's really not about witchcraft. According to this book, it's about a lot of different topics. She points out too making this about witches or just focusing on the women you kind of miss the point. I more interested, I realize, how this because a hysteria and maybe how to prevent stuff like this from happening again.
Salem was a Puritan town. Their religion and knowing about their laws are important when talking about the trails. They weren't just after women; they were after anyone who wasn't their religion. This book briefly covers the incident with the Quakers, one woman was accused as a "witch" because she was a Quaker. This book also talks about the slaves and the natives. These white people weren't alone. This book doesn't really cover modern day, but clearly you could make a case that this event has happened within our own times, just look at the concentration camps, the Red Scare, post-9/11, to name a few.
At times this book is a little hard to read because it's not fully in modern English. I'm glad there were commentaries. I was already familiar with Howe's writing and thought she was a good pick for the editor. Recommend for those into the subject and don't mind reading documents over a book about "real" witches.
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fictional narrative people have on the trails.How did they start and why did it spread? That's one question I have about the Salem Witch Trails. I use to care about the witchcraft, but learned it's really not about witchcraft. According to this book, it's about a lot of different topics. She points out too making this about witches or just focusing on the women you kind of miss the point. I more interested, I realize, how this because a hysteria and maybe how to prevent stuff like this from happening again.
Salem was a Puritan town. Their religion and knowing about their laws are important when talking about the trails. They weren't just after women; they were after anyone who wasn't their religion. This book briefly covers the incident with the Quakers, one woman was accused as a "witch" because she was a Quaker. This book also talks about the slaves and the natives. These white people weren't alone. This book doesn't really cover modern day, but clearly you could make a case that this event has happened within our own times, just look at the concentration camps, the Red Scare, post-9/11, to name a few.
At times this book is a little hard to read because it's not fully in modern English. I'm glad there were commentaries. I was already familiar with Howe's writing and thought she was a good pick for the editor. Recommend for those into the subject and don't mind reading documents over a book about "real" witches.
Show Less
LibraryThing member varielle
The Penguin Book of Witches is a resource containing the actual transcriptions of mostly colonial American witchcraft cases in the 17th century. There is a brief analysis prior to each case. It has excellent end notes. This is a bit dry as legal documents can be and will be of the most benefit to a
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researcher. If you are looking for something more fun read the editor Katherine Howe's book called The Physics Book of Deliverance Dane. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2014
ISBN
014310618X / 9780143106180