The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe

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 scapegoats.

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 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.

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 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 show more look at the European witch hunts. show less

This is a great book analyzing the outbreaks of witchcraft accusations and trials in Europe. He focuses mainly on continental Europe but also details the differences between England and Europe. The time period is from 1450-1750 when the "witch craze" was at its height. This is an easy read and a great introduction to the topic. It tries to answer questions such as: why did the trials occur? what do the trials tell us about early modern society? Like I said before, this is a great introduction into the whole study of witch trials and accusations in early modern Europe.

general survey of social conditions, changes in theology and in law that permitted the witch hunt. Seems well researched and comprehensive.

an excellent investigation of the society and culture which produced and sustained the witchcraze.

The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe by Brian Levack (1995)