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The Hammer of Witches: A Complete Translation of the Malleus Maleficarum 1st Edition

by Christopher S. Mackay (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 198 ratings
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The Malleus Maleficarum, first published in 1486–7, is the standard medieval text on witchcraft and it remained in print throughout the early modern period. Its descriptions of the evil acts of witches and the ways to exterminate them continue to contribute to our knowledge of early modern law, religion and society. Mackay’s highly acclaimed translation, based on his extensive research and detailed analysis of the Latin text, is the only complete English version available, and the most reliable. Now available in a single volume, this key text is at last accessible to students and scholars of medieval history and literature. With detailed explanatory notes and a guide to further reading, this volume offers a unique insight into the fifteenth-century mind and its sense of sin, punishment and retribution.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0521747872
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0521747875
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Cambridge University Press
  5. Publication date
    May 29, 2009
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    6 x 1.51 x 9 inches
  8. Print length
    664 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mackay has done a splendid job with the translation of this important work, and his commentary is a book in itself...provides useful information to both the general reader or undergraduate student and to graduate students or other scholars...sure to take its place among several recent and well-done translations of important demonological texts." --Jane P. Davidson, University of Nevada: Sixteenth Century Journal

"Overall, however, the effort and achievement in this volume are significant, allowing this important work to be accessed by a fab broader audience in a critical edition placed in its proper historical and intellectual context."
--Elizabeth Hyde, Kean University

Book Description

The only complete, reliable English translation of this famous fifteenth-century text.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cambridge University Press; 1st edition (May 29, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 664 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0521747872
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0521747875
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 1 year and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.35 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.51 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 198 ratings

About the author

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Christopher S. Mackay

Christopher S. Mackay

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I have a BA from the University of Michigan, and a PhD in Classical Philology from Harvard. I wrote my dissertation on the judicial legislation of Gaius Gracchus under the direction of Ernst Badian. I have a wide range of interests, ranging from the philological interpretation of historical texts, through paleography, to historical linguistics. My basic interest in Latin and Roman history has resulted in all sorts of funny projects I never would have imagined in graduate school, from medieval/early modern witchcraft through scholasticism and canon law to Low German and the Anabaptist kingdom of Münster of (I'm close to done with an edition and translation of the only eyewitness account). Along the way, as grad chair, I offered to teach an MA student Nahuatl, which resulted in my translating Michel Launey's French textbook on the language into English. Once the new edition of Gresbeck is done, I have a learner's commentary on Latin selections from the Malleus Maleficarum to finish plus editions of an archive of documents relating to his inquisition in Innsbruck of 1486 and the handbook on witchcraft that he wrote for the city council of Nuremberg in 1491. Plus a translation of Apuleius's Apologia! May the gods smile on my projects sufficiently that I can get them all done.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
198 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book informative, cool, and interesting. They also say it's important for understanding medieval thinking from theology realms to legal information. Readers praise the wonderful translation and presentation.

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10 customers mention "Reading quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative, cool, and interesting. They say it's important for understanding medieval thinking from theology realms to legal issues.

"...The translator also provides suggestions for further reading and useful maps...." Read more

"Important book on the subject." Read more

"The lengthy introduction is quite interesting in terms of history, however, the translator's compulsion to comment in footnotes upon matters of..." Read more

"This book is cool I really dont like reading but this book captured my attention when i say it and I had to have it wonderful book" Read more

4 customers mention "Translation quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the translation wonderful, readable, and well-written. They also say it's accessible.

"...Personally, I found this text to be accessible and readable and the price makes this a value buy for those interested in the subject." Read more

"Clearly this is a quality work of translation and presentation...." Read more

"A high quality and very helpful translation of a complicated text." Read more

"wonderful translation but obviously its a translation of a terrible albeit informative book hence the low rating" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Z Hayes
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written and accessible translation of The Malleus Maleficarum
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2010
Verified Purchase
My interest in this work developed after a course I took on the history of witch craft and the witch hysteria. This is a translation of The Maleus Maleficarum which was first published c. 1486. Translator Christopher S. Mackay provides readers with insights into this 15th century treatise on witchcraft. As stated in the introduction, the book's primary objective is to provide readers with insights into this work, with reference to how the work was perceived by those of its time and also its ramifications in the years since its publication. The focus here is on the intellectual context and cultural/historical background of the work.

Having never read other translations of this work, my review is based purely on this work. I found the detailed outline provided in the Introduction to be useful in making sense of how the material is organized. The translator also provides suggestions for further reading and useful maps. Personally, I found this text to be accessible and readable and the price makes this a value buy for those interested in the subject.
44 people found this helpful
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Benjamin
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for research.
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2012
Verified Purchase
This book provided me with a look at the mind of a 15th-century European with regard to witchcraft. It presented an outline on how witches interacted in society and how those in authoritative positions should deal with them.
10 people found this helpful
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Pablo A Calvan
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the price.
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2019
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Important book on the subject.
One person found this helpful
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Chelsea Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars Leaves something to be desired...
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2014
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The lengthy introduction is quite interesting in terms of history, however, the translator's compulsion to comment in footnotes upon matters of personal belief call into question his bias in translation. At some points the translation is stilted to the point of nonsense. It doesn't flow well logically in places, and the translator uses what I believe are erroneous terms in some places in reference to philosophical concepts that are well-known in the scholastic tradition (i.e., interchanging substance and essence, as well as portraying an equivalence between the physical and the substance of a being). The failures in logic could be the failures of Institoris, and in those cases would warrant a footnote saying as much.

That said, the book is quite an informative read.
46 people found this helpful
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blumenberg
5.0 out of 5 stars A quality work
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2012
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Clearly this is a quality work of translation and presentation. The original text has suffered over the centuries through misrepresentation and being sensationalised but it remains a key medieval work. At last we have a translation, both tasteful and learned, that gives the work full value. It should remain a primary reference.
21 people found this helpful
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jose
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2014
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This book is cool I really dont like reading but this book captured my attention when i say it and I had to have it wonderful book
3 people found this helpful
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C. Moore
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Book
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2014
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Good book. Classic for a reason. Fairly dense and not exactly a beach read, but worth it if you are interested in the history of the persecution of witches, especially from a seven hundred year old perspective.
7 people found this helpful
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Marlee
5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2017
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A high quality and very helpful translation of a complicated text.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

JENNIFER
5.0 out of 5 stars Arrived today
Reviewed in Canada on June 29, 2022
Verified Purchase
My book was delivered this morning at my shop and I couldn’t wait to get home and start reading! I did start reading at work today.. 🤫 don’t tell the boss 😉Have read through half the book this evening!
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Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful service, Wonderful book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2017
Verified Purchase
Well that's if you can call The Hammer of Witches Wonderful. The packaging from Wondery was excellent and they where sweet enough to include a little Book Mark. The book is in perfect condition.
This particular version of the Malleus Maleficarum is rather expensive compared to the others however this is by far the best and most accurate.
The book is in three parts and Wonderfully written. I recommend the book and the Seller who sold it...Thank You Wondery.
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Claudius X. Bingeworthy
5.0 out of 5 stars The Hammer of Witches
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2022
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My wife has been looking for this book for years. I found it here and ordered it for her as a surprise. Good move by me.
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norm
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on July 4, 2018
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what i wanted
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Jimbo
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Translation
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2017
Verified Purchase
A very good translation with an excellent Introduction
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