The Witchcraft Reader

by Oldridge; Darren

• ISBN13: 9780415415651
• ISBN10: 0415415659
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-04-15
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The Witchcraft Readerdraws together the best historical writing on the subject, exploring the origins and consequences of the fear of witches. The Readertraces the development of witch beliefs in the late Middle Ages, the social and political dynamics of witch-hunts in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and the continuing relevance of the subject today. This second edition has been extensively revised and updated to include important new research in the field. There are expanded sections on witchcraft in the Middle Ages and the role of gender in witch trials, as well as new work on demonic possession and the decline and survival of witch beliefs. The major themes and debates in the study of witchcraft are brought together in a general introduction, which places the extracts in a critical context and each extract has an introduction which contextualizes its author. The Witchcraft Reader offers a wide range of historical perspectives in a single, accessible volume aimed at anyone intrigued by this complex and fascinating subject.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Acknowledgements	p. x
General introduction	p. 1
Medieval origins	p. 19
Witch Trials in Medieval Europe (1976)	p. 23
The Demonisation of Medieval Heretics (1975)	p. 31
Witchcraft and Reform in the Late Middle Ages (2003)	p. 37
The Malleus Maleficarum and the Construction of Witchcraft (2003)	p. 43
Witchcraft, magic and fear	p. 49
The Experience of Bewitchment (1996)	p. 53
Witches and Charmers in Scotland (2002)	p. 64
The Medical Effects of Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe (2002)	p. 69
Weather, Hunger and Fear: Origins of the European Witch-Hunts in Climate, Society and Mentality (1995)	p. 74
The idea of a witch cult	p. 87
Margaret Murray's Witch Cult (1994)	p. 93
Heartland of the Witchcraze (1981)	p. 99
From Dream Cult to Witches' Sabbath (1993)	p. 107
The Alternative World of the Witches' Sabbat (1993)	p. 112
Inversion, Misrule and the Meaning of Witchcraft (1980)	p. 120
Witchcraft and the Reformation	p. 131
Protestant Witchcraft, Catholic Witchcraft (1997)	p. 136
A Lutheran Response to Witchcraft and Magic (1996)	p. 148
Anabaptists and the Devil (1999)	p. 154
Witchcraft and authority	p. 165
The Crime of Witchcraft in Europe (1994)	p. 171
Pierre De Lancre and the Basque Witch-Hunt (1999)	p. 180
State-Building and Witch-Hunting in Early Modern Europe (1996)	p. 185
Witchcraft, Confessionalism and Authority (2002)	p. 198
Witchcraft, possession and the Devil	p. 205
The Devil and the German People (1989)	p. 211
The Social Meanings of Demonic Possession (2004)	p. 223
Ecstasy, Possession, Witchcraft (2004)	p. 230
Johann Weyer and the Devil (1994)	p. 240
Witchcraft and gender	p. 247
Was Witch-Hunting Woman-Hunting? (1994)	p. 253
The Myth of the Persecuted Female Healer (1995)	p. 257
Damned Women in Puritan New England (1997)	p. 261
Women, Witches and Witnesses (1993)	p. 267
Masculinity and Male Witches in Old and New England (2005)	p. 287
Reading confessions	p. 301
Witchcraft Confessions and Demonology (2005)	p. 305
Witches, Wives and Mothers (1995)	p. 311
Oedipus and the Devil (1994)	p. 324
The decline of witchcraft	p. 337
The Decline of Witchcraft Prosecutions (1999)	p. 341
The Decline of the Witchcraft Pamphlet (1999)	p. 349
Urbanisation and the Decline of Witchcraft: An Examination of London (1997)	p. 353
Witchcraft After the Witch Trials (1999)	p. 367
Witchcraft today	p. 373
Modern Witches and Their Past (1996)	p. 379
Witchcraft and Satanic Abuse (1998)	p. 385
Index	p. 389
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