Witches and Witchcraft
Witches and Witchcraft by David Nash, published by Bloomsbury USA on July 22, 2014, is a concise exploration of the historical phenomenon of witchcraft during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This 56-page book delves into the widespread fear of witches that gripped communities in central Europe, examining the societal obsession that led to witch-hunting and the subsequent pursuit of justice against those accused. Nash provides a detailed account of the evolution of witchcraft beliefs, the peak and decline of witch-hunting, and the enduring legacy of these beliefs into the nineteenth century and beyond.
Readers will find an in-depth analysis of various themes, including the geographical spread of witchcraft, regional differences in witch-hunting practices, and the gender dynamics that resulted in a disproportionate number of women being accused and convicted. The book also addresses the academic interest in witchcraft that emerged in the early twentieth century, particularly in relation to the ideologies of Nazi Germany. Through this examination, Nash unlocks the complexities of witchcraft history across Britain, Europe, and America, providing a comprehensive understanding of its impact on society and culture.
Official synopsis Publisher
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, entire communities, particularly in central Europe were gripped by a fear of witches and witchcraft, and pursued witches in order to bring them to justice. Professor David Nash unlocks the sometimes opaque history of the phenomenon of witchcraft in Britain, Europe and America. The book explores the development of witchcraft and belief in witches, the obsession with witches and witchcraft that spawned witch-hunting, the hey-day and decline of witch-hunting, and the fascinating ‘afterlife’ of witchcraft: covering not only the survival of some beliefs into the nineteenth century but the academic interest in witchcraft in the early twentieth century, which culminated in the interest shown in the phenomenon by experts serving the interests and ideology of Nazi Germany. Among the themes that the author will examine are the geographical spread and regional differences in witchcraft and witch-hunting across Britain, Europe and America; the theories on the rise of witch-hunting; and gender differences: why so many more women were accused and convicted of witch-hunting than men.
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