Professor Marion Gibson recommends five books about the history of witchcraft
Deadly Worlds: Witchcraft in the Bocage, by Jeanne Favret-Saada
Cambridge University Press, 2010 (paperback)
This book, first published in 1981, examines witchcraft beliefs and experiences in the Bocage, a rural area of western France where being bewitched is to be ‘caught’ in a sequence of misfortunes. The culprit, it is believed, is someone in the neighbourhood: the witch, who can cast a spell with a word, a touch or a look, and whose ‘power’ comes from a book of spells inherited from an ancestor. There, it is believed that only a professional magician – an ‘unwitcher’ – can break chains of misfortune which befall those who have been bewitched.
The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft, by Professor Ronald Hutton
OUP Oxford; 2nd edition, 2021 (paperback)
In this updated edition, Professor Ronald Hutton presents a thoroughly revised exploration of modern pagan witchcraft, delving into the religion’s essence and evolution, and tracing the historical trajectory of attitudes towards witchcraft, paganism and magic in British society from 1800 onwards. Within its pages, readers encounter a diverse array of characters, including village cunning folk, Victorian ceremonial magicians, scholars of antiquity and archaeology, leaders within woodcraft and scouting movements, Freemasons, and members of secret rural societies. Hutton also illuminates the presence of renowned literary figures – ranging from the Romantic poets to luminaries like WB Yeats, DH Lawrence, and Robert Graves – who have shaped public perceptions of pagan witchcraft since 1950.
In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692, by Mary Beth Orton
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group; Reprint edition, 2003 (paperback)
Award-winning historian Mary Beth Norton delivers an exhaustively researched and captivating analysis of the Salem witch trials. Set against the backdrop of 1692 Massachusetts, Norton unveils a society gripped not only by the spectre of satanic afflictions but also by the haunting aftermath of brutal Native American attacks that had ravaged the northern frontier, driving terrified settlers – including key accusers of witchcraft – to seek refuge in places like Salem. Amidst this atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, colonial leaders, grappling with their own inadequacies in safeguarding the frontier, wrestled with the divine implications of such suffering inflicted by indigenous peoples. Drawing striking parallels between the harrowing experiences of the refugees and the accounts of alleged witchcraft victims, many swiftly embraced a narrative of diabolical conspiracy, implicating the Devil, (in league with the French and Native Americans), in a malevolent plot to assail New England from all sides. In this work, Norton offers fresh insights into one of the most enigmatic and compelling periods in American history.
America Bewitched: The Story of Witchcraft After Salem, by Professor Owen Davies
OUP Oxford; Reprint edition, 2016 (paperback)
The shadow of the Salem trials looms large in the collective memory of modern America, serving as a stark reminder of the perils of intolerance and persecution. Across the ensuing centuries, the refrain “Remember Salem!” echoed persistently, symbolising a societal shift away from its colonial past, its victims now the righteous and their persecutors the shamed. However, the saga of witchcraft did not conclude with the dawn of the American Enlightenment; rather, it ushered in a new, protracted, and chilling era.
Beyond mere folklore and superstition, witchcraft post-Salem remained a matter of life and death, casting a pall over the American experience for many. In fact, the number of individuals executed as witches between 1692 and the 1950s surpassed those put to death prior to the Salem trials. Witches became entwined in the narrative of Native American decimation, the ordeal of slavery and emancipation, and the immigrant journey, leaving an indelible mark on the religious and social fabric of the nation. Yet, amidst the trauma, the history of American witchcraft between the 18th and 2oth century also unveils a tale of cultural exchange, revealing how diverse traditions intersected and influenced each other’s languages and beliefs.
Early Modern European Witchcraft: Centres and Peripheries, edited by Bengt Ankarloo and Gustav Henningsen
Oxford University Press; Reprint edition, 1996 (paperback)
The historical exploration of witchcraft and sorcery has sparked significant interest and debate, yet previous studies to this work predominantly offered insights from an Anglo-Saxon perspective. This book challenges the notion that phenomena traditionally associated with Britain were exclusive to that region, revealing instead their prevalence across much of northern Europe. By breaking free from the Anglo-Saxon-centric approach, this volume incorporates groundbreaking developments in the historiography of witchcraft.
Drawing upon extensive archival research conducted by the contributors, this book presents a wealth of fresh material and perspectives. Among the themes explored are the intricate interplay between witchcraft, law, and theology; the origins and rituals of the witches’ sabbath; the sociological and criminological dimensions of witch-hunting; and the comparative analysis of European witchcraft practices.