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 fervor, today it
serves as a reminder of the power of fear and fanaticism to fuel
ordinary people's willingness to demonize others.
General
Imprint: |
Harvard University Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
October 2007 |
First published: |
2005 |
Authors: |
Malcolm Gaskill
|
Dimensions: |
229 x 147 x 26mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
384 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-674-02542-4 |
Categories: |
Books >
Humanities >
History >
General
Books >
History >
General
|
LSN: |
0-674-02542-3 |
Barcode: |
9780674025424 |
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