"A ... global history of witch trials across Europe, Africa, and the Americas, told through thirteen distinct trials that illuminate the pattern of demonization and conspiratorial thinking that has profoundly shaped human history"--]cProvided by publisher.

Witchcraft: The Basics is an engaging introduction to the scholarly study of witchcraft. It explores the phenomenon of witchcraft from its earliest definitions in the Middle Ages through to the modern day, and uses case studies to analyse the roles of culture, religion, gender, social hierarchy, ...

'These stories of witchcraft, true and vividly told, demonstrate the potent reality of belief in evil and how in any era or place fear can be weaponised and marginal people, mostly women, labelled as wicked and dangerous. Together they comprise not just a history of witchcraft but a cautionary tale'...

National Bestseller
A New Yorker Best Book of 2024

A "thought-provoking and timely" (The Times, London) global history of witch trials across Europe, Africa, and the Americas, told through thirteen distinct trials that illuminate a pattern of demonization and conspiratorial thinking...

Witchcraft: The Basics is an accessible and engaging introduction to the scholarly study of witchcraft, exploring the phenomenon of witchcraft from its earliest definitions in the Middle Ages through to its resonances in the modern world. Through the use of two case studies, this book delves into...