20 Best Books About Salem Witch Trials (2023 Update)

Susanna desperately wants to join the circle of girls who meet every week at the parsonage. what she doesn't realize is that the girls are about to set off a torrent of false accusations leading to the imprisonment and execution of countless innocent people. susanna faces a painful choice. should she keep quiet and let the witch-hunt panic continue, or should she "break charity" with the group–and risk having her own family members named as witches? reader's guide included.

Based on twenty-seven years of original archival research, including the discovery of previously unknown documents, this day-by-day narrative of the hysteria that swept through salem village in 1692 and 1693 reveals new connections behind the events, and shows how rapidly a community can descend into bloodthirsty madness. roach opens her work with chapters on the history of the puritan colonies of new england, and explains how these people regarded the metaphysical and the supernatural. the account of the days from january 1692 to march 1693 keeps in order the large cast of characters, places events in their correct contexts, and occasionally contradicts earlier assumptions about the gruesome events. the last chapter discusses the remarkable impact of the events, pointing out how the 300th anniversary of the trials made headlines in japan and australia.

This historical narrative of the salem witch trials takes its dialogue from actual trial records but applies modern psychiatric knowledge to the witchcraft hysteria. starkey's sense of drama also vividly recreates the atmosphere of pity and terror that fostered the evil and suffering of this human tragedy.

"the colony of massachusetts in 1692 was a harsh place. disease, hunger, and the threat of war made life stressful. colonists clung to their religious faith and looked for someone to blame. some accused their fellow colonists of causing the troubles through the practice of witchcraft. the hysteria spread until no one was safe. will you: attempt to defend yourself against charges of witchcraft? try to keep your family together as your mother is put on trial? accuse someone else of being a witch?"

The story of the salem witch trials told through the lives of six womensix women of salem is the first work to use the lives of a select number of representative women as a microcosm to illuminate the larger crisis of the salem witch trials. by the end of the trials, beyond the twenty who were executed and the five who perished in prison, 207 individuals had been accused, 74 had been "afflicted," 32 had officially accused their fellow neighbors, and 255 ordinary people had been inexorably drawn into that ruinous and murderous vortex, and this doesn't include the religious, judicial, and governmental leaders. all this adds up to what the rev. cotton mather called "a desolation of names." the individuals involved are too often reduced to stock characters and stereotypes when accuracy is sacrificed to indignation. and although the flood of names and detail in the history of an extraordinary event like the salem witch trials can swamp the individual lives involved, individuals still deserve to be remembered and, in remembering specific lives, modern readers can benefit from such historical intimacy. by examining the lives of six specific women, marilynne roach shows readers what it was like to be present throughout this horrific time and how it was impossible to live through it unchanged.

From the acclaimed printz honor winner author stephanie hemphill comes this powerful fictionalized account of the salem witch trials from the point of view of three of the real young women living in salem in 1692. ann putnam jr. is the queen bee. when her father suggests a spate of illnesses in the village is the result of witchcraft, she puts in motion a chain of events that will change salem forever.mercy lewis is the beautiful servant in ann's house who inspires adulation in some and envy in others. with her troubled past, she seizes her only chance at safety. margaret walcott, ann's cousin, is desperately in love. she is torn between staying loyal to her friends and pursuing a life with her betrothed.with new accusations mounting against the men and women of the community, the girls will have to decide: is it too late to tell the truth?

Beginning in january 1692, salem village in colonial massachusetts witnessed the largest and most lethal outbreak of witchcraft in early america. villagers–mainly young women–suffered from unseen torments that caused them to writhe, shriek, and contort their bodies, complaining of pins stuckinto their flesh and of being haunted by specters. believing that they suffered from assaults by an invisible spirit, the community began a hunt to track down those responsible for the demonic work. the resulting salem witch trials, culminating in the execution of 19 villagers, persists as one ofthe most mysterious and fascinating events in american history. historians have speculated on a web of possible causes for the witchcraft that stated in salem and spread across the region-religious crisis, ergot poisoning, an encephalitis outbreak, frontier war hysteria–but most agree that there was no single factor. rather, as emerson baker illustrates in thisseminal new work, salem was a perfect storm: a unique convergence of conditions and events that produced something extraordinary throughout new england in 1692 and the following years, and which has haunted us ever since. baker shows how a range of factors in the bay colony in the 1690s, including a new charter and government, a lethal frontier war, and religious and political conflicts, set the stage for the dramatic events in salem. engaging a range of perspectives, he looks at the key players in the outbreak–theaccused witches and the people they allegedly bewitched, as well as the judges and government officials who prosecuted them–and wrestles with questions about why the salem tragedy unfolded as it did, and why it has become an enduring legacy. salem in 1692 was a critical moment for the fading puritan government of massachusetts bay, whose attempts to suppress the story of the trials and erase them from memory only fueled the popular imagination. baker argues that the trials marked a turning point in colonial history from puritancommunalism to yankee independence, from faith in collective conscience to skepticism toward moral governance. a brilliantly told tale, a storm of witchcraft also puts salem's storm into its broader context as a part of the ongoing narrative of american history and the history of the atlantic world.

This acclaimed history illuminates the horrifying episode of salem with visceral clarity, from those who fanned the crisis to satisfy personal vendettas to the four-year-old "witch" chained to a dank prison wall in darkness till she went mad. antonia fraser called it "a grisly read and an engrossing one."

In 1692, a small village in salem, massachusetts, was suddenly attacked by the specters of flying witches and all manner of evil. a group of young girls began "crying out" against their neighbors and family members. by the time it was over, nineteen people were hanged, one man crushed to death, and five succumbed to the ordeal of imprisonment. this book offers answers to that question, along with exclusive interviews with the salem witch trial's top experts. the book includes never-before-seen photographs and information about proctor's ledge from the experts and historians who located the actual site of the hangings. a focus on the paranormal activity happening in salem is offered in the haunting section. you will also find a nod to hocus pocus and other movies. spotlights on the best lodging, restaurants, and tourist attractions are also listed, along with maps, and websites for further study. pittman is a best-selling author of 13 books, including the history & haunting of lizzie borden, the history and haunting of salem, and many more. her love of mysteries has found her on multiple tv and radio programs.

Salem, massachusetts, 1692. in a plain meetinghouse a woman stands before her judges. the accusers, girls and young women, are fervent and overexcited. the accused is a poor, unpopular woman who had her first child before she was married. as the trial proceeds the girls begin to wail, tear their clothing, and scream that the woman is hurting them. some of them expose wounds to the horrified onlookers, holding out the pins that have stabbed them — pins that appeared as if by magic. are they acting or are they really tormented by an unseen evil? whatever the cause, the nightmare has begun: the witch trials will eventually claim twenty-five lives, shatter the community, and forever shape the american social conscience.

Salem witchcraft will always have a magnetic pull on the american psyche. during the 1692 witch trials, more than 150 people were arrested. an estimated 25 million americans—including author diane foulds—are descended from the twenty individuals executed. what happened to our ancestors? death in salem is the first book to take a clear-eyed look at this complex time, by examining the lives of the witch trial participants from a personal perspective. massachusetts settlers led difficult lives; every player in the salem drama endured hardships barely imaginable today. mercy short, one of the “bewitched” girls, watched as indians butchered her parents; puritan minister cotton mather outlived all but three of his fifteen children. such tragedies shaped behavior and, as foulds argues, ultimately played a part in the witch hunt’s outcome. a compelling “who’s who” to salem witchcraft, death in salem profiles each of these historical personalities as it asks: why was this person targeted?

The stark immediacy of what happened in 1692 has obscured the complex web of human passion which had been growing for more than a generation before building toward the climactic witch trials. salem possessed explores the lives of the men and women who helped spin that web and who in the end found themselves entangled in it. tormented girls writhing in agony, stern judges meting out harsh verdicts, nineteen bodies swinging on gallows hill. the stark immediacy of what happened in 1692 has obscured the complex web of human passion, individual and organized, which had been growing for more than a generation before the witch trials. salem possessed explores the lives of the men and women who helped spin that web and who in the end found themselves entangled in it. from rich and varied sources–many previously neglected or unknown–paul boyer and stephen nissenbaum give us a picture of the events of 1692 more intricate and more fascinating than any other in the already massive literature on salem. "salem possessed," wrote robin briggs in the times literary supplement, "reinterprets a world-famous episode so completely and convincingly that virtually all the previous treatments can be consigned to the historical lumber-room." not simply a dramatic and isolated event, the salem outbreak has wider implications for our understanding of developments central to the american experience: the breakup of puritanism, the pressures of land and population in new england towns, the problems besetting farmer and householder, the shifting role of the church, and the powerful impact of commercial capitalism.

Against the backdrop of a puritan theocracy threatened by change, in a population terrified not only of eternal damnation but of the earthly dangers of indian massacres and recurrent smallpox epidemics, a small group of girls denounces a black slave and others as worshipers of satan. within two years, twenty men and women are hanged or pressed to death and over a hundred others imprisoned and impoverished. in the salem witch trials reader, frances hill provides and astutely comments upon the actual documents from the trial–examinations of suspected witches, eyewitness accounts of "satanic influence," as well as the testimony of those who retained their reason and defied the madness. always drawing on firsthand documents, she illustrates the historical background to the witchhunt and shows how the trials have been represented, and sometimes distorted, by historians–and how they have fired the imaginations of poets, playwrights, and novelists. for those fascinated by the salem witch trials, this is compelling reading and the sourcebook.

During the salem witch trials, more than 150 people — primarily women — from 24 communities were charged with witchcraft; 19 were hanged and others died in prison. this book explores the beliefs, fears, and historical context that fueled the witch panic of 1692. the documents in this volume illuminate how the puritans' worldview led them to seek a supernatural explanation for the problems vexing their community. presented as case studies, the records from several trials offer a clear picture of the gender norms and social tensions that underlie the witchcraft accusations.

This wild and entertaining novel expands on the true story of the west indian slave tituba, who was accused of witchcraft in salem, massachusetts, arrested in 1692, and forgotten in jail until the general amnesty for witches two years later. maryse condé brings tituba out of historical silence and creates for her a fictional childhood, adolescence, and old age. she turns her into what she calls "a sort of female hero, an epic heroine, like the legendary 'nanny of the maroons, '" who, schooled in the sorcery and magical ritual of obeah, is arrested for healing members of the family that owns her.caraf books: caribbean and african literature translated from frenchthis book has been supported by a grant from the national endowment for the humanities, an independent federal agency.

Tormented girls writhing in agony, stern judges meting out harsh verdicts, nineteen bodies swinging on gallows hill. the stark immediacy of what happened in 1692 has obscured the complex web of human passion which climaxed in the salem witch trials. from rich and varied sources-many neglected and unknown-paul boyer and stephen nissenbaum give us a picture of the people and events more intricate and more fascinating than any other in the massive literature. it is a story of powerful and deeply divided families and of a community determined to establish an independent identity-beset by restraints and opposition from without and factional conflicts from within-and a minister whose obsessions helped to bring this volatile mix to the flash point. not simply a dramatic and isolated event, the salem outbreak has wider implications for our understanding of developments central to the american experience: the disintegration of puritanism, the pressures of land and population in new england towns, the problems besetting farmer and householder, the shifting role of the church, and the powerful impact of commercial capitalism.

Part of the enduring fascination of the salem witch trials is the fact that, to date, no one theory has been able to fully explain the events that ravaged salem in 1692. countless causes, from ergot-infected rye to actual demonic posession, have been offered to explain why the accusations and erratic behavior of seven village girls left hundreds accused, over 20 dead, and the townspeople of eastern massachusetts shaken. through a multitude of resources, this authoritative reference guide explores the salem witchcraft episode, including the religious and political climate in puritan new england, and accessibly summarizes the major interpretations of, and reactions to, the events, from the seventeenth century until the present day. biographical sketches of each person central to the events–including afflicted girls, victims, ministers, and magistrates–add a human element, and primary document excerpts–including petitions, letters, and revealing testimony–give a firsthand glimpse of the proceedings in the players' own words. a chronology of events, a glossary of terms, an annotated bibliography, and over 25 photos make this a must-have resource for students of american history, criminal justice, gender issues, and culture. – a must-have for any student of american history, this resource gives a unique glimpse into the 17th century politics, religious culture, and gender issues that created the salem witchcraft episode, and gives context to an impact that still resonates today, in everything from modern political life to popular culture. – five thematic essays exploring the event, including historical background, interpretations, and aftermath – biographical sketches of every major player involved in the trials, from ministers to afflicted girls – fifty primary document excerpts, including petitions, letters, and revealing trial testimony – a chronology of events – an annotated bibliography of print and nonprint sources for further research – a glossary of key names, terms, and language used at the trials – over 25 photos of depictions and historical sites

Part of the enduring fascination of the salem witch trials is the fact that, to date, no one theory has been able to fully explain the events that ravaged salem in 1692. countless causes, from ergot-infected rye to actual demonic posession, have been offered to explain why the accusations and erratic behavior of seven village girls left hundreds accused, over 20 dead, and the townspeople of eastern massachusetts shaken. through a multitude of resources, this authoritative reference guide explores the salem witchcraft episode, including the religious and political climate in puritan new england, and accessibly summarizes the major interpretations of, and reactions to, the events, from the seventeenth century until the present day. biographical sketches of each person central to the events–including afflicted girls, victims, ministers, and magistrates–add a human element, and primary document excerpts–including petitions, letters, and revealing testimony–give a firsthand glimpse of the proceedings in the players' own words. a chronology of events, a glossary of terms, an annotated bibliography, and over 25 photos make this a must-have resource for students of american history, criminal justice, gender issues, and culture. – a must-have for any student of american history, this resource gives a unique glimpse into the 17th century politics, religious culture, and gender issues that created the salem witchcraft episode, and gives context to an impact that still resonates today, in everything from modern political life to popular culture. – five thematic essays exploring the event, including historical background, interpretations, and aftermath – biographical sketches of every major player involved in the trials, from ministers to afflicted girls – fifty primary document excerpts, including petitions, letters, and revealing trial testimony – a chronology of events – an annotated bibliography of print and nonprint sources for further research – a glossary of key names, terms, and language used at the trials – over 25 photos of depictions and historical sites

Vivid storytelling brings american history to life and place readers in the shoes of people who experienced one of the most notorious moments in american history – the salem witch trials. in the spring of 1692, girls in salem, massachusetts, accused several local women of witchcraft. the events that followed were marked by mass hysteria and religious extremism and ultimately led to trials, convictions, executions, and many more accusals. suspenseful, dramatic events unfold in chronological, interwoven stories from the different perspectives of people who experienced the event while it was happening. narratives intertwine to create a breathless, what's next? kind of read. students gain a new perspective on historical figures as they learn about real people struggling to decide how best to act in a given moment.

Vivid storytelling brings american history to life and place readers in the shoes of people who experienced one of the most notorious moments in american history – the salem witch trials. in the spring of 1692, girls in salem, massachusetts, accused several local women of witchcraft. the events that followed were marked by mass hysteria and religious extremism and ultimately led to trials, convictions, executions, and many more accusals. suspenseful, dramatic events unfold in chronological, interwoven stories from the different perspectives of people who experienced the event while it was happening. narratives intertwine to create a breathless, what's next? kind of read. students gain a new perspective on historical figures as they learn about real people struggling to decide how best to act in a given moment.