The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology

The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology is about the infamous witch hunts and witch trials from 1450 to 1750. There are over 100 names of persons accused of being witches, authors about witches or witch hunting, those who presided over witch trials, and those who wrote against witch trials. We also get to learn about famous witch trials besides Salem, although Salem has its own entry. We follow the delusion from what would become the United Kingdom through Scandinavia. It was interesting to learn that until the 13th century, the Catholic Church believed that the acts of witches weren't real. Pity it ever changed. I was also surprised to learn that the witchcraft of the hunts and trials was considered a Christian heresy. Those we show more normally think of as witches are using sorcery. From the entry on trials, it appears that we have the Inquisition to thank for the belief in the witchcraft heresy (a belief opposed by the Franciscans).

The weak of stomach might wish to skip the entry on torture as well as those entries for various instruments of torture. One thing made very clear is that torture did get victims to admit to being witches as well as accuse others of being witches. It's also made clear that forcing the accused to accuse others was to keep the witch hunts and trials going.

Until I read this book, I had no idea what a profitable business witch trials were for those who engaged in them. Check the entry on 'Costs of Witch Trials'. The condemned witch or his/her family had to pay all of the costs of the trial if the poor soul lived in France, what would become Germany, or Scotland. Think of it: one paid for one's own guards, torture, execution, and the after-execution banquet. Anything left of one's estate went to the clergymen, judges, doctors, and the persons involved, including those who cut the wood for the burning. One of the pages is the Archbishop of Cologne's price list for the various types of torture and other expenses involved, including salves for the victim or getting those bones broken during torture set. DO NOT READ that list if you have a weak stomach.

There are also entries on various types of witches and what they were supposed to be able to do, such as storm raising. Werewolves, demons, vampires, and poltergeists have their entries. Probably my favorite nugget of information is in the entry on demonology, more specifically, the Third Hierarchy of Hell. Did you know there was a demon named Olivier whose heavenly opponent was Lawrence?

This book is amply illustrated with reproductions of engravings, woodcuts, portraits, the occasional bas relief, title pages of books, handwritten documents, and at least one map.

I highly recommend this book to any adult with an interest in the witch hunts and witch trials, as well as the curious beliefs about witches from the Bad Old Days. show less

I love reference books, and this is the holy grail. It has a great bibliography of many a burned books throughout history, illustrations of engravings and paintings related to the subject, and a plethora of other entries. Any horror writer, occultist, or book collector would cherish this definitive work. It is not a book of spells, a book of shadows, or a grimoire. It is and encyclopedia of all things creepy fact and fiction.

(c) 1959, Crown Publishers, Inc., New York, N.Y. Old version in excellent condition. Information prior to the Wiccan reconstructionist viewpoint. Great as a reference resource volume.

Mine's the 2nd edition, September 1960.

black, no cover