Brian P. Levack

This book is detailed and rigorous in its approach and superbly argued. Levack explains the European witch-hunt in clear terms and gives pause for thought as to how popular superstitions, when combined with erroneous intellectual beliefs, a dubious judicial system, religious fundamentalism and economic and social unrest, can lead to the persecution and killing of those members of society who, for whatever reason, are regarded as subversive or simply as different and are therefore treated as show more scapegoats. show less

A good overview of much-debated subject based mainly on good recent scholarly books, not primary research by Levack. Very sensible about the possibilities. A few doubtful statements --says are one point no witness (aside from interrogated witches) claimed to have eve seen a sabbat, but elsewhere does refer to reports of innocent people stumbling across them. Admits there were people practicing both ritual high magic and low-level maleficia (simple curses and the like) but does not think show more there was any organized devil-worship. May well be right. Aware that reactions to witchcraft varied from very rational enquires wtout torture or mass executions all te way up ton paranoid wholesale persecutions, but the latter were rare. show less

5078. The Devil Within Possession & Exorcism in the Christian West, by Brian P. Levack (read 25 Oct 2013) The index of this scholarly book did not indicate that it discussed the Earling exorcism case (which occurred in my home town about the time I was born) but I decided to read the book anyway and when I came to page 241 lo and behold the Earling case was related, occupying almost a page. (Not a good reflection on the index!) This made me glad I decided to read the book, even though some show more of the discussion of possessions and exorcisms were not of huge interest, jumping around in time and locale a lot. The book suggests that those who hold diabolical possession to be non-existent cannot explain some of the cases, though that there may be mistaken diagnoses is of course possible. While witchcraft is now recognized as a delusion and the excesses in regard to witches are universally deplored, possession has not fallen to the same level of disbelief. Anyone interested in the question owes it to himself or herself to read this book.. show less

It's probably not fair to star rate this as it's aimed at an academic audience and I dropped History the first year of college, and my knowledge Middle/Early Modern Europe is limited to what I picked up studying English lit.

The first half of the book is taken up with the causes, intellectual, judicial, social, and religious, of the witch-craze. These sections were excellent and were also a great primer for my afore mentioned loose grasp of European history. Later in the book I found my eyes show more glazing over a bit especially during the chronology and geography section. But these sections may be the 'meat' of the book as far as the scholars are concerned. Who knows.

All in all a good, if dense, read for those looking for an fairly in depth look at the European witch hunts. show less