Witchcraft: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) [Paperback]

Malcolm Gaskill (Author)

Book Description

Series: Very Short Introductions | Publication Date: May 20, 2010

Witchcraft is a subject that fascinates us all. Indeed, from childhood most of us develop some mental image of a witch--usually an old woman, mysterious and malignant. But why do witches still feature so heavily in our cultures and consciousness? From Halloween superstitions to literary references such as Faust and, of course, Harry Potter, witches seem ever-present in our lives. In this Very Short Introduction, Malcolm Gaskill takes a long historical perspective, from the ancient world to contemporary paganism. This is a book about the strangeness of the past, and about contrasts and change; but it's also about affinity and continuity. He reveals that witchcraft is multi-faceted, that it has always meant different things to different people, and that in every age it has raised questions about the distinction between fantasy and reality, faith and proof. Delving into court records, telling anecdotes, and challenging myths, Gaskill re-examines received wisdom, especially concerning the European witch-hunts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. He also explores the modern memory and reinvention of witchcraft--as history, religion, fiction, and metaphor.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Witchcraft: Questions for Consideration and Discussion

How have the stereotypes, images, and cultural associations of witchcraft changed between the classical age and the present day?

Why throughout history have witches been so strongly associated with women?

What are the major historical myths about witches, especially during the witch craze, and why are they so hard to dispel with hard fact?

How can we explain the massive surge of witchcraft trials in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?

What emotion is involved in witchcraft accusations, and is it helpful to think in terms of "hysteria"--for example in relation to the Salem trials of 1692?

Why does the fascination with witches endure in popular culture, in everything from novels and films to cartoons and games?

Review

This pocket-book eloquently and clearly introduces and summarizes the theories and theorists of the historical study of witchcraft. His account is concise enough to stand alone, but also a great introduction to the work of other scholars in the field, with excellent recommended reading. Journal of Folklore Research Each chapter in this small but perfectly-formed book could be the jumping-off point for a year's stimulating reading. Buy it now. Fortean Times

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019923695X
• ISBN-13: 978-0199236954
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #397,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting overview of witchcraft, May 13, 2010

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Dr. Bojan Tunguz (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Witchcraft: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

As the author of this book correctly states in the introduction, a book on witchcraft will be read. Witchcraft is a very fascinating topic, and witches are some of the most recognizable characters in the world folklore and literature. Furthermore, witches don't only hold fascination for children - even adults are very fascinated by this phenomenon and have been eager to read into witchcraft various political and social critiques. Despite all of this fascination, most people have scarcely ever read any authentic historical or sociological account of witchcraft as it was actually practiced or thought to have been practiced. This short introduction promises to fill that gap. Unfortunately, even though there is a lot of interesting material presented here, there are many shortcomings as well.

The author is very eloquent and good at constructing an interesting phrase. However, it is very hard to follow the main points that he is trying to get across. He jumps from one century to another, from one locale to the next, and from one idea to the subsequent one in a rapid succession and altogether too hastily. The book is written more as an essay about witchcraft than a true historical or sociological account of this phenomenon. It is an interesting narrative, but it is not clear how much of it is the definitive description of witchcraft and how much are the author's own opinions and ideas.

One of the main virtues of this book is that it dispels many myths about witches and witchcraft that have become very popular. In particular, it shows that the actual number of witches that have been executed during the "witch craze" in Europe has mostly been exaggerated. The book also points out the fact that far from being a religiously-inspired, most persecutions of witches had secular and popular underpinnings. To be sure, the religious authorities had their share of blame, but more often than not religious authorities worked at moderating and even suppressing popular hysterias. In this regard this short introduction presents a very sober assessment of the persecution of witches, but it falls short of providing any "unified theory" for the phenomenon. After reading this book I am nowhere closer to understanding those persecutions than I was before.

Overall, this is an interesting book that presents many fascinating ideas and facts, but it should not be used as the definitive introduction to the subject.