America Bewitched

The Story of Witchcraft After Salem

Owen Davies (Professor of Social History, University of Hertfordshire)

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English

Oxford University Press
11 August 2016

History; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900; Magic, alchemy & hermetic thought; Witchcraft; Satanism & demonology

America Bewitched is the first major history of witchcraft in America - from the Salem witch trials of 1692 to the present day.

The infamous Salem trials are etched into the consciousness of modern America, the human toll a reminder of the dangers of intolerance and persecution. The refrain 'Remember Salem!' was invoked frequently over the ensuing centuries. As time passed, the trials became a milepost measuring the distance America had progressed from its colonial past, its victims now the righteous and their persecutors the shamed. Yet the story of witchcraft did not end as the American Enlightenment dawned - a new, long, and chilling chapter was about to begin.

Witchcraft after Salem was not just a story of fire-side tales, legends, and superstitions: it continued to be a matter of life and death, souring the American dream for many. We know of more people killed as witches between 1692 and the 1950s than were executed before it. Witches were part of the story of the decimation of the Native Americans, the experience of slavery and emancipation, and the immigrant experience; they were embedded in the religious and social history of the country. Yet the history of American witchcraft between the eighteenth and the twentieth century also tells a less traumatic story, one that shows how different cultures interacted and shaped each other's languages and beliefs.

This is therefore much more than the tale of one persecuted community: it opens a fascinating window on the fears, prejudices, hopes, and dreams of the American people as their country rose from colony to superpower.

By: Owen Davies (Professor of Social History University of Hertfordshire)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 215mm, Width: 148mm, Spine: 24mm
Weight: 354g
ISBN: 9780198745389
ISBN 10: 0198745389
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 11 August 2016
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

1: Aftermath 2: Magic of a New Land 3: The Law 4: Witches 5: Dealing with Witches 6: Dealing with Witch Believers 7: Insanity 8: Witch Killings Up Close 9: Times a'Changing Notes Further Reading References Index

Owen Davies is Professor of Social History at the University of Hertfordshire. He has written extensively on the history of magic, witchcraft, ghosts, and popular medicine, including The Haunted: A Social History of Ghosts (2007), Grimoires: A History of Magic Books (2009), Paganism: A Very Short Introduction (2011), and Magic: A Very Short Introduction (2012). He is also the editor of The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic, which is forthcoming from Oxford University Press.

Reviews for America Bewitched: The Story of Witchcraft After Salem

Davies brings American witchcraft out into the open with its history of murders, personal tragedies and fears and shows how various waves of immigration have affected racial attitudes and perhaps soured the American dream for some. * Steve craggs, Northern Echo *