The Penguin Book of Witches is a resource containing the actual transcriptions of mostly colonial American witchcraft cases in the 17th century. There is a brief analysis prior to each case. It has excellent end notes. This is a bit dry as legal documents can be and will be of the most benefit to a researcher. If you are looking for something more fun read the editor Katherine Howe's book called The Physics Book of Deliverance Dane. ( )

Excellent non-fiction expostulation of the sociology of witchcraft in English speaking North America. Based on primary sources Katherine Howe builds a powerful picture of the gender, demographic, religious, economic, and political forces that led to the most notorious episode in North American witchcraft, the Salem witch hysteria in 1692 and its aftermath.

Compelling commentary enlivens the essential but often turgid source material. Howe builds a strong case for the cultural and historical components that drive the persecution of the non-conformist even today. For anyone who does not think this is relevant today I would point them to the case of Amanda Knox.

The book is poorly titled considering the content. I picked it up not really knowing what to expect from a story anthology to a cultural overview of modern Wiccan belief. ( )

Like Penguin's "Book of Magic", it's a nice collection of primary sources with helpful explanations and context. However, this does not cover all European witch crazes, it focuses strictly on later witchcraft trials in England and America. We see the work of William Perkins, a Cambridge Puritan, who imported Continental beliefs about witchcraft to England and directly influenced colonial Puritans. In fact the "Tryal of Witches" at Bury St. Edmunds in 1662 admitted spectral evidence or dream/vision evidence as a legal argument, which of course determined the conduct in Salem. The latter half of the book provides primary documents or excerpts for the Salem witch trials, but the Salem witch trials weren't the only cases in America.While the majority of cases did occur in various places around Massachusetts, the earliest recorded case appears in Virginia in 1626. There are trials in New York and an outbreak in Connecticut as well. It becomes obvious that trials occurring across the pond had a direct affect on the colonists. ( )

It was fascinating to read actual accounts written about the witch trials, and some other events involving the accusation and persecution of witches, during this time frame (1582-1813). At times the style was meandering or dry, but nonetheless, this is a true window into the past. Each piece has an introduction that gives clearer context and/or meaning, which is very useful. It is extraordinary to read the beliefs and actions of the people involved, and to see the hints of what was really behind at least some of these activities. ( )

The Penguin Book of Witches by Katherine Howe starts out strong with an interesting introduction and list of suggestions for further reading. The author is a descendent of three accused Salem witches, and her novel The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane is one of my favorites.

This non-fiction book covers biblical witches, a handful of English and Scottish witch trials and documents pertaining to witches and witchcraft, and then in more detail and number witches and witch trials from early Colonial America to the infamous witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, to a time period after Salem though 1813. Interestingly, it contains an anecdote from an anti-Federalist paper published in 1787 during the Constitutional Convention regarding the still present belief in witches, which led to an older women being stoned to death in the streets of Philadelphia in 1786. It ends with a brief history of Moll Pitcher, 1738-1813, a cunning woman and fortune teller much respected internationally and often consulted in Lynn, Massachusetts. In as much as the introduction sets the stage, the book just ends with Moll’s story, followed by end notes. I wanted a closing note or epilogue from the author.

While reading I quickly got bored and skimmed through the first part of the book, mainly focusing on the introductions that summarized each individual recounting. The Salem and After Salem sections were much more interesting, and I read them in their entirety. It is telling that it took me a little over a year to finish the book, as after a while the accounts became tedious.

The end notes are interesting and often include links to the original documents via the University of Virginia’s online Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project.

The book is definitely a good source for research projects, and an important source for preserving the often spotty record of a small handful of women and some men who were accused, arrested, tried, tortured, and often executed as witches for daring to be different, to be other, to fall out of favor in a small community, in the name of religion.

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