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Silvia Federici

Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation Paperback – Illustrated, September 15, 2004

by Silvia Federici (Author)

258 ratings

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Literary Nonfiction. CALIBAN AND THE WITCH is a history of the body in the transition to capitalism. Moving from the peasant revolts of the late Middle Ages to the witch-hunts and the rise of mechanical philosophy, Federici investigates the capitalist rationalization of social reproduction. She shows how the battle against the rebel body and the conflict between body and mind are essential conditions for the development of labor power and self-ownership, two central principles of modern social organization.

"It is both a passionate work of memory recovered and a hammer of humanity's agenda."—Peter Linebaugh, author of The London Hanged

Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Autonomedia
Publication date

September 15, 2004
Dimensions

6 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
ISBN-10

1570270597
ISBN-13

978-1570270598
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Product details

Publisher : Autonomedia; Illustrated edition (September 15, 2004)
Language : English
Paperback : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 1570270597
ISBN-13 : 978-1570270598
Item Weight : 13.5 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #21,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #37 in Sociology of Social Theory
- #42 in Wicca
- #84 in Witchcraft Religion & Spirituality

Customer Reviews:
258 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		88%
4 star		8%
3 star		2%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Josh Bowen

I never finished the book

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2018

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My step mom said this book was radicalizing me so she threw it in the trash when I wasn't looking.

150 people found this helpful

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Joyce

Good history for women

Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2017

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Federici’s work on feminism goes back to the 1970’s when she felt neither the Radical Feminists nor the Social Feminists provided a satisfactory explanation of the roots of the exploitation of women. In this book she explores the transition from feudalism to capitalism and its affect on women. The title draws on Shakespeare’s The Tempest with Caliban representing the anti-colonial rebel and the Witch representing female heretics, healers, disobedient wives, women who dared to live alone, and those who inspired slaves to revolt. Compare that model of strong women to the new model of femininity which emerged at the end of the 17th Century (after centuries of state terrorism): ideal wife, passive, obedient, thrifty, chaste. Federici investigates the 300 years of witch hunts of the Middle Ages, the role of which she sees to create out of the female body workers for the burgeoning capitalist economy. She tells the horrific story of the many ways that the power of women was destroyed culminating in the massacre and cruel torture of hundreds of thousands of women. The witch hunt was a turning point in women’s lives. No doubt the psyche of every woman is affected still by so many of the strongest of us being so treated. Yet the witch hunt is one of the most understudied phenomena in European history.

84 people found this helpful

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LUCIA J FIERO

Too esoteric

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2019

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The language is highly academic and a struggle for this layman. I barely made it 20 pages in and wass exhausted. I was really excited about this book from all I had heard, too. Maybe when I have more mental energy I will be able to tackle it again. IF you are a voracious reader who isn't fatigued by over complicated language, perhaps you would like to give it ago. The reviews I've read are outstanding.

25 people found this helpful

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Wes Modes

Most Important book you’ll ever read

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2019

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This book changed my understanding of capitalism, feminism, historic witch trials in Europe and the Americas, the enclosures of the commons, what came before Capitalism, and what we might envision as an alternative after. All in an extremely readable and thoroughly researched volume.

19 people found this helpful

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Tristan

Great look into the history of witches!

Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2020

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It was a very fascinating study of the later medieval period and how all the actions against the peasantry eventually led to the witch trials. And how the witch trials dragged women down so far we still haven't recovered from it in modern times.

For a book that talks about focusing on the Witch Trials, the first half of the book is more of a background/build-up to them. I did not mind this, but I do love history so getting to know so much about medieval Europe was really fun for me. It was very inspiring but also depressing to read about how hard Europeans were fighting against Capitalism. They were trying so hard just to get massacred over and over. Also interesting to read about how white indentured servants and African & Indigenous slaves were originally allies and friends. Until the whites were separated and started to think of themselves as better.

The chapter about the New World was also very interesting. I would have liked to see it expanded slightly to see how the witch trials affected the colonization of Polynesia and Australia and the treatment of women there.

One issue I did have was the "The Great Caliban" section, it is mostly just a philosophical chapter about what counts as a body and various philosophical dialogues going on at the time. I'm sure it was interesting to some, but to me I honestly skimmed the latter half of that section. It just felt like it was covering the same ground over and over.

4.5/5 stars because it is interesting and paints a very solid picture of the era. It lost a star mostly for the extremely long build up (while fascinating) it doesn't feel like it focuses on the main chunk that is brought up over and over gain.

3 people found this helpful

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Chrystal G.

The author has really poured her heart into her work

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2018

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Wow, this book is crammed pack with history and I love that it has the sources listed. Very eye opening on a history we were never taught.

8 people found this helpful

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Abo

Amazing Book That Everyone Should Read

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2018

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This book is thought-provoking. Whether you are a victim of sexual assault or not the book places social responsibility on everyone to create an environment that is healthy. I loved this book and how it didn't shy away from discussing deep topics, and how Federici utilized history as a way to back up her claims.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Claudia

wow. just wow

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 22, 2019

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this... I am on my second re-read already, and I plan on doing way more. This is an INCREDIBLE book that has opened so many avenues of knowledge that I was completely ignorant of before. I have recommended it to everyone because I really believe it should be a compulsory read. It's full of well-researched information, but not hard to read at all. Just get it.

7 people found this helpful

Wayne. E

It weaves history and theory and is a joy to read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2016

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This is one of the most eye-opening books one could possibly read. It weaves history and theory and is a joy to read.

10 people found this helpful

Pippa

Everyone should read this book!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2021

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Extremely relevant, especially during the so-called "COVID pandemic". If you want to understand how power dynamics operate in the world, buy this.

Genuinesaint

This books gives the reason for the most horrifying events ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 12, 2015

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This books gives the reason for the most horrifying events in history, links it to colonialism & present day exploitation & how murder for profit in early capitalism still affects communities today.

9 people found this helpful

Kristine Louise

Incredible book. Silvia is a force to be reckoned with!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2020

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A must read for anyone interested in womanhood, economics, and all things in-between.

2 people found this helpful

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