Witchcraft in Early North America investigates European; African; and Indian witchcraft beliefs and their expression in colonial America. Alison Games's engaging book takes us beyond the infamous outbreak at Salem; Massachusetts; to look at how witchcraft was a central feature of colonial societies in North America. Her substantial and lively introduction orients readers to the subject and to the rich selection of documents that follows. The documents begin with first encounters between European missionaries and Native Americans in New France and New Mexico; and they conclude with witch hunts among Native Americans in the years of the early American republic. The documents—some of which have never been published previously—include excerpts from trials in Virginia; New Mexico; and Massachusetts; accounts of outbreaks in Salem; Abiquiu (New Mexico); and among the Delaware Indians; descriptions of possession; legal codes; and allegations of poisoning by slaves. The documents raise issues central to legal; cultural; social; religious; and gender history. This fascinating topic and the book’s broad geographic and chronological coverage make this book ideally suited for readers interested in new approaches to colonial history and the history of witchcraft.
#2727143 in Books 2017-02-27Original language:English 9.00 x .60 x 6.00l; #File Name: 1439912009264 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. I expected more detail in this book it was not ...By Constance ColeI expected more detail in this book it was not very meaty. And had little insight into the collective memory of historical sites. It was actually hard to get the idea of why and in who's voice this was written. Came away with even less understanding of the site and more confusion on the process of the Empty house exhibit in Philadelphia that matches nothing from the past and seems to be a commemoration of a bow widow.
