Instruments of Darkness: Witchcraft in Early Modern England [Paperback]

James Sharpe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0812216334 | ISBN-13: 978-0812216332

They flew through the air, consorted with animals, and made pacts with the devil. Witches were as unquestioned as alchemy or astrology in medieval England; yet it wasn't until the midsixteenth century that laws were passed against them. Now a leading historian of crime and society in early modern England offers the first scholarly overview of witchcraft in that country in over eighty years, examining how tensions between church, state, and society produced widespread distrust among fearful people.

Instruments of Darkness takes readers back to a time when witchcraft was accepted as reality at all levels of society. James Sharpe draws on legal records and other sources to reveal the interplay between witchcraft beliefs in different partts in the social hierarchy. Along the way, he offers disturbing accounts of witch-hunts, such as the East Anglian trials of 1645-47 that sent more than 100 people to the gallows. He tells how poor, elderly women were most often accused of witchcraft and challenges feminist claims that witch-hunts represented male persecution by showing that many accusers were themselves women.

Prosecution of witches gradually declined with increasing skepticism among jurists, new religious attitudes, and scientific advances that explained away magic. But for two hundred years, thousands participated in one of history's most notorious persecutions. Instruments of Darkness is a fascinating case study that deepens our understanding of this age-old cultural phenomenon and sheds new light on one society in which it occurred.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Learned and enthralling."—Jan Morris, Independent Weekend

"This is a humane and learned book, which will be essential reading for everyone with a serious interest in this fascinating topic."—Robin Briggs, author of Communities of Belief: Cultural and Social Tensions in Early Modern France

About the Author

James Sharpe is senior lecturer in history at the University of York. He is the author of Crime in Early Modern England 1550-1750 and Early Modern England: A Social History 1550--1750.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812216334
• ISBN-13: 978-0812216332
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #504,267 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last! An NEW book on English Witchcraft!, July 24, 1999

By 

P. A. Agnew (Wellington New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Instruments of Darkness: Witchcraft in Early Modern England (Paperback)

Sharpe's claims for this book are modest. His motivation to write sprang from the realisation that there has never been a satisfactory, all-encompassing account of English witchcraft since the works of Notestein in 1911 and Kittredge in 1929. Therefore, it was high time that somebody rewrote the story of English witchcraft to take account of the progress made in this field during the last few decades. There is no doubt that Sharpe, who has considerable experience within this area, is well qualified to write such a book. Over the years, he has written several articles on aspects of English witchcraft; thus, this book can be seen as the culmination of years of research and writing.

Part One of Instruments of Darkness attempts to outline in simple, yet thorough terms, the role that witchcraft and ideas about it played in all sectors of English society from "elite mentalities" to "popular culture." Sharpe demonstrates that we cannot separate both kinds of belief - there was considerable interplay between the two. This is the major achievement of the first part of the book.

In Part Two, Sharpe draws upon Five Themes of English Witchcraft. He adequately charts the patterns of prosecution in local English communities. He also argues that the Matthew Hopkins "witch-hunt" of 1645-7 is not really all that "different" from English witchcraft as a whole. He shows that the feminist accounts of English witchcraft are simplistic and naive (take that Marianne Hester and Mary Daly!) and profles the most distinctly "English" aspect of European witchcraft - the possessed victim. All of this is stimulating reading.

Finally, Part Three charts the decline of witch beliefs by focusing upon judicial skepticism, changing religious beliefs and the growth of scientific ideas. Again, Sharpe highlights the interplay between the three and demonstrates that although witchcraft had become a joke amongst the elite classes by 1720, the witch continued to be highly feared among village communities until at least 1850.

Throughout it all, Sharpe demonstrates that English witchcraft is, by its very nature, highly complex. This book is required reading for anyone interested in English witchcraft. Even still, Sharpe shows the complexity of English witch beliefs so clearly, one wonders if we shall ever know the full story of English witchcraft?

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read, February 13, 2001

By 

J. Robbins "JohanTheMighty" (Nacogdoches, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Instruments of Darkness: Witchcraft in Early Modern England (Paperback)

Theres not really much I can say about this book that hasn't already been covered by Peter Agnew (rated this book before I did) so I'll try to be brief and list only those aspects of the book that I feel Peter missed.

This book, for the material covered, was really very easy to read and understand. One of the most important qualities in a book is that it be easy to read and understand and that the material be brought forth in a relatively efficient manner, and this book meets that criteria. Easy to read yet full of information and details covering the subject, I don't know how he could have done it any better.

Another plus that not only does the author give you his sources for his material at the end of book, as well they should, but he also tells you a little bit about each source. This gives the reader an opportunity to see other books covering the subject the subject, in what way they cover the subject, and to decide if they have any interest in them or not.

On the down side, I feel that this author, like many other authors, down played the feminist perspective behind the witchhunts way too much. I believe that ideas such as those held by Anne Barstow (author of "Witchcraze") do have a place in European Witch Hunt history and should be adressed. There was more behind these witch hunts than just simple ignorance and misunderstanding. Greed, hatred, views of women (especially those who spoke up for themselves) in a patriarchal society, control, and politics ALL played a part in what happened in Europe over those 3 centuries and for anyone to ignore them or to play them off as so many do are, in my opinion, fooling themselves. This being the only negative on what is otherwise a very impressive book I went ahead and gave it 4 stars (would have given it 4.5 but unfortunately this website doesn't give me that option.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instrument of Excellence!!!, January 3, 2009

By 

Jeremy Williamson (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Instruments of Darkness: Witchcraft in Early Modern England (Paperback)

Through a study of early British Gothic horror cinema I chanced upon the wholly fascinating reality of Medieval and Early Modern European witchcraft ideologies, accusations and persecutions. Determined to make an acquaintance of it, I shortly thereafter received this book as a gift from my fiance who chanced across it. And I have since extolled it's virtues to friends and family alike. Though a highly academic effort and seemingly not for everyone, Instruments of Darkness is in fact quite accessible to anyone with even a passing interest, and is full of fascinating information that skillfully blends the contemporary psychosocial, theological, and legal histories of the abundant witchcraft persecutions in Early Modern England. It would be impossible for me to overstate the attributes of (or my sentiments in regard to) this book, the impetus and corner stone of my now vast European witchcraft persecution collection. A wonderfully engrossing subject, and ecstatic reading experience. Highly recommended! Kudos Mr. Sharpe!