Against the backdrop of a Puritan theocracy threatened by change; in a population terrified not only of eternal damnation but of the earthly dangers of Indian massacres and recurrent smallpox epidemics; a small group of girls denounces a black slave and others as worshipers of Satan. Within two years; twenty men and women are hanged or pressed to death and over a hundred others imprisoned and impoverished. In The Salem Witch Trials Reader; Frances Hill provides and astutely comments upon the actual documents from the trial--examinations of suspected witches; eyewitness accounts of "Satanic influence;" as well as the testimony of those who retained their reason and defied the madness. Always drawing on firsthand documents; she illustrates the historical background to the witchhunt and shows how the trials have been represented; and sometimes distorted; by historians--and how they have fired the imaginations of poets; playwrights; and novelists. For those fascinated by the Salem witch trials; this is compelling reading and the sourcebook.
#494555 in Books Elie Wiesel 2009-05-08Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.40 x .60 x 5.70l; .75 #File Name: 0030554624192 pagesNight
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. So powerful! So Moving!By RtisticMeI loved this book; though I was horrified by what I was reading. Elie Wiesel suffered great loss and tragedy and saw such atrocities! And he brought me along with him. To read his perspective of what was happening around him at such a young age was gut wrenching. If you are interested in the Holocaust; it is a must read. I just happened to read it before visiting the Holocaust Museum in DC. It made all of the difference to me. I could hear Mr. Wiesel's words. I could smell the smells and hear the sounds; yet not a word was spoken in the museum. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. Both of my children have to read it for school and I am thrilled that they will learn from a first hand account.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Lest we forgetBy BarbaraIt is hard to rate or review like "Night". The written descriptions are so vivid and tragic; you wish no one ever had to go through something so horrific. This should be a must read for all humans; to allow us to better empathize with one another on a human level; no matter race; religion or creed.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Very Important BookBy Orville WrightI was not aware of this book until the announcement of Elie Wiesel's death recently. This is an important and well written book about the horrors of the Nazi death camps from the perspective of a victim who was lucky enough to survive the end of the war. I wish I had read this book years ago. I find it incredible that there are still people who deny that the holocaust even happened. This book is a testament to their willful blindness.
