Welcome to Litsy!

This incredibly detailed and researched book describes how innocent people were victims of misguided religiosity, ignorance, bigotry, and misogyny. Even in modern times, powerful people use the fear of demonization and the unknown to exploit and control people. Today‘s social and political climate continues this persecution and the term "witch hunt" has been twisted by the rich and the powerful when their own actions are called into question.

A fascinating look at 13 witchcraft trials throughout history. I was familiar with a number of the trials but that didn't affect my feelings about the book. It also brings home how little things have changed in terms of who is generally accused and why.

Found Charlie snuggled up with a new book 🐈😂

Fascinating

I also finished this audiobook on my drive. I was familiar with 4 of the 13 trials. The book makes its way through history. A little dry but informative. Many people seem to not care much for the final trial with Stormy Daniels but I liked hearing about how the topic of witches has evolved and how it‘s perceived on multiple sides/views of today‘s culture.

This book is a history of witchcraft trails over the last 450 years. It contains lots of contemporary material and connections as well. Not surprisingly, whether 1600s or 2000s, witchcraft accusations are rooted in misogyny, control, hatred, and abhorrence of those in poverty.

For most of this book I thought it would be a pick—and maybe it still should be—but I found the last couple chapters disappointing. The first 11 trials are real, riveting historical witchcraft trials, chosen to both be representative of other trials of their time and to illustrate turning points in the history of witch trials. But trial 12 is a fictional trial that represents the horrible treatment of “witches” in southern Africa—couldn‘t she…

Another irritating error. The Wiccan symbol is a pentacle, not a “pentangle”—seriously, how do you study witchcraft and get that wrong? Also, the symbol isn‘t approved for current service members (I don‘t even know whether that‘s a thing). It‘s approved for placement on grave markers of service members, after years of work, which hardly supports her assertion that the US government theoretically allows freedom of religion including witchcraft.

Hmm… no, it didn‘t. That wasn‘t added to the dollar bill until the 1950s. 🤔

I hate finding errors like this in books. It makes me suspicious of all the research. 🤨

It‘s nice to start a weekend trip with a new book!

With a slightly academic tone, Gibson examines 13 witch trials throughout history….spoiler alert, only one of the dozens of mostly women (there are just a couple men highlighted) were never or not self-proclaimed witches. I‘d love to say “see how far we‘ve come,” but as Gibson shows in her last case from the 21st century, accusations have evolved but the underlying causes remain. Politics. Socioeconomic. Nonconformity to religion. Recommended!

A bit dry, yes, but the subject matter is engaging enough to keep one invested. Less about ‘witches‘ and more about the subjugation of women throughout history. I found it scary and sad; just the very idea of what the accused went through. Makes me think about humankind, about being a man in today‘s society, and how I can be better at both.

This is a detailed look at the history of witch trials and demonology. It focuses on 13 trials as a deep dive into the actions and beliefs that drive witch trials - misogyny, patriarchy, and white supremacy being chief among those justifications. The text is very dry, though, which makes this a difficult read, and the narrator delivers the text in the manner of a dull university lecture. A pick for the content, but a low one for the tedium.

Public service announcement - British library has a really interesting line up live and also on web on 4th November as part of their Festival of the Accused - non fiction and fiction writers on witchcraft. I am planning to attend the 1 pm!