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Witchfinders

A Seventeenth-Century English Tragedy
By Malcolm Gaskill
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Witchfinders by Malcolm Gaskill delves into the harrowing period of England's history during the witch hunts of the 17th century. The book explores the lives and motivations of those involved, particularly focusing on the infamous Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne, who were responsible for the trials and executions. Through vivid historical detail, it captures the fear and paranoia that gripped the nation, shedding light on the social and political factors that fuelled these dark events.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$9800

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you are fascinated by the social dynamics and historical context of 17th-century England. Dive into the gripping investigation of the infamous witch hunts, offering a vivid portrayal of the individuals and circumstances that fuelled these turbulent times. It provides a compelling exploration of fear, belief, and power, set against a backdrop of religious and political upheaval.

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In 1645, Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne exploited the anxiety and lawlessness of the time and initiated a brutal campaign to drive out the presumed evil in their midst. Gaskill recounts the most savage witch-hunt in English history. By the fall of 1647 at least 250 people had been captured, interrogated, and tried, with more than 100 hanged.

Witchfinders tells the gripping and important story of England's biggest witch-hunt. The available information is perhaps without parallel in its detail, density, and inherent pathos. And Gaskill puts it together with very great skill. The result is a ground-level, step-by-step portrayal of a sort not seen elsewhere in the enormous literature on witchcraft history. -- John Demos, author of Circles and Lines: The Shape of Life in Early America

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

By spring 1645, two years of civil war had exacted a dreadful toll upon England. People lived in terror as disease and poverty spread, and the nation grew ever more politically divided. In a remote corner of Essex, two obscure gentlemen, Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne, exploited the anxiety and lawlessness of the time and initiated a brutal campaign to drive out the presumed evil in their midst.

Touring Suffolk and East Anglia on horseback, they detected demons and idolators everywhere. Through torture, they extracted from terrified prisoners confessions of consorting with Satan and demonic spirits.

Acclaimed historian Malcolm Gaskill retells the chilling story of the most savage witch-hunt in English history. By the autumn of 1647 at least 250 people—mostly women—had been captured, interrogated, and hauled before the courts. More than a hundred were hanged, causing Hopkins to be dubbed Witchfinder General by critics and admirers alike.

Though their campaign was never legally sanctioned, they garnered the popular support of local gentry, clergy, and villagers. While Witchfinders tells of a unique and tragic historical moment fueled by religious fervour, today it serves as a reminder of the power of fear and fanaticism to fuel ordinary people's willingness to demonise others.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Malcolm Gaskill's Witchfinders has been commended for its detailed and skilful portrayal of England's largest witch-hunt during the turbulent 1640s. The book is praised for its breadth of archival research, weaving a compelling narrative that combines the gripping horror of seventeenth-century witch trials with a well-documented historical account. Reviewers have noted Gaskill's ability to depict the religious, social, and political context that allowed the witch hunts to flourish, offering insights into the mentality of the era and revealing the chilling parallels with modern scapegoating.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780674025424

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 October 2007

Country: United States

Imprint: Harvard University Press

Illustration: 2 halftones, 35 line illustrations, 2 maps

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 147.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 384

Collections

European History Health & Wellness History & Archaeology History & Military Malcolm Gaskill Non-Fiction Self-Help & Personal Development

About the Author

Malcolm Gaskill is a Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge, where he is Director of Studies in History.

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