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Marilynne K. Roach

The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege Paperback – July 22, 2004

by Marilynne K. Roach (Author)

282 ratings

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Based on twenty-seven years of original archival research, including the discovery of previously unknown documents, this day-by-day narrative of the hysteria that swept through Salem Village in 1692 and 1693 reveals new connections behind the events, and shows how rapidly a community can descend into bloodthirsty madness. Roach opens her work with chapters on the history of the Puritan colonies of New England, and explains how these people regarded the metaphysical and the supernatural. The account of the days from January 1692 to March 1693 keeps in order the large cast of characters, places events in their correct contexts, and occasionally contradicts earlier assumptions about the gruesome events. The last chapter discusses the remarkable impact of the events, pointing out how the 300th anniversary of the trials made headlines in Japan and Australia.

Print length

752 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Taylor Trade Publishing
Publication date

July 22, 2004
Dimensions

6.12 x 1.51 x 9.06 inches
ISBN-10

1589791320
ISBN-13

978-1589791329
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Roach's new and exciting book is a marvelous compendium of well-thought-out insights, multiple facts, and little-known details on the events of the infamous 1692 Salem Village witchcraft. Her work, arranged in a day-by-day chronology, allows the reader to visualize how these events began and progressed to become the most massive witchcraft outbreak in America. It is an important addition to the literature of New England witchcraft. -- Richard B. Trask, Danvers, Massachusetts Town Archivist

[A] truly impressive day-by-day compendium on the course of the Salem witchcraft trials. This will be an invaluable aid to the scholarship on this pivotal episode in American history. -- William T. La Moy, Editor ― Peabody Essex Museum Collections

The most complete day-by-day account of the Salem witch trials ever written. [Roach has created] a fascinating chronicle of the witchcraft episode and its long aftermath, filled with revealing social and psychological detail, accurately and gracefully written. A compelling read. -- Benjamin C. Ray, Director, Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive

This fascinating, deeply researched day-by-day account of the events of 1692 to 1697 is an extraordinarily valuable resource for any student of the Salem witch trials. -- Frances Hill, Author of A Delusion of Satan and editor of The Salem Witch Trials Reader

What an accomplishment! Marilynne Roach tells the story with rare detail and deep understanding. Her scholarship and sensibility make The Salem Witch Trials an invaluable must-have for those interested in the trials and the times. Reading her work is almost like being there. Outstanding. -- Alison D'Amario, director of education, Salem Witch Museum

Monumental.... Roach's detailed reference book provides deep insights into the trial years by letting us listen to the voices of everyone involved. ― Publishers Weekly

Presents a detailed chronology of events from January 1, 1692, to January 14, 1697. Drawing on extensive sources, including some recently discovered manuscript material, it provides invaluable basic information in an accessible format that will aid those who are new to the Salem Witch Trials and those who many be revisiting them. ― Library Journal

The well-written text is formatted much like a diary of excerpted, paraphrased, and quoted documentation. -- G. Wood, SUNY College at Cortland ― Choice

Roach worked on this fascinating chronicle more than 25 years. She tells exactly what happened at the time, based on tons of documents and court testimony. ― Denver Post

Marilynne K. Roach's The Salem Witch Trials is representative of this ongoing interest: her "day-by-day chronicle" will find a place on the shelves of researchers and history buffs for whom the fascination of Salem never palls. -- Thomas S. Kidd, Baylor University ― Books and Culture

Useful, rigorous and historiographically current reference work. -- Marc Aronson ― Los Angeles Times

Readers will come away with a much fuller pitcure of who lived in Salem and how they lived...This intriguing book offers an understanding of history that will be helpful to those studying colonial Massachusetts and of course, the notorious trials. ― Booklist

This book is a good reference for understanding why the accusations occured... -- Jodelle Greiner ― Gainesville Daily Register

About the Author

Marilynne K. Roach, author and illustrator of In the Days of the Salem Witchcraft Trials and former contributor to the Boston Globe, lives in Watertown, Massachusetts, near Boston.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Taylor Trade Publishing (July 22, 2004)

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 752 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1589791320

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1589791329

Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.14 pounds

Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.12 x 1.51 x 9.06 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #55,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

#82 in U.S. Colonial Period History

#243 in Magic Studies (Books)

Customer Reviews:
282 ratings

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4.6 out of 5
282 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

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Candace Lee Punch
It is a piece of my heart.
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
My 9th Great Grand Mother on my Dad's side was Margaret Stephenson Scott Hanged in 1692 on hanging hill as a witch. There is a stone with her name carved in it on Hanging Hill behind Salem Mass. Now I have her full story!
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17 people found this helpful

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B. Marold

HALL OF FAME

Read this book first!
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2012
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I am really pleased that there are so many positive reviews of this book, as I believe that it is the one book you need to read first, if you are ever in a position where you need to study the subject. This book may not answer all the questions, but it will unquestionably give you what you need to detect the mistaken answers you may find in other books.

The Salem Witch incident is one of the most mysterious in the history of 17th century Protestant religion in both America and in Europe. There were cases of supposed witchcraft up to as recently as 1689 (Salem event occurred in 1692), but no similar incident involving this number of people ever happened anywhere else in Protestant Europe or America. The theories about the causes have centered around searching for scapegoats, perverse understanding of Christianity, and mass hysteria. The only one of those theories which have any semblence of credibility is the role of what we now call "hysteria". There are descriptions of symptoms of those affected, such as paralysis and blocking of the esophagus which are precisely described in Freud and Breuer's classic work on hysteria.

The author goes to great pains to avoid theorizing about any underlying causes of how the event started, how it came to an end, or most relevantly, why the outbreak was so virulent. She just presents the facts, largely as the people at that time actually saw them.

The conclusion one tends to draw is that this was a community in high anxiety from possible Indian attacks, with a government in disarray, and an economic slump due to the paralyzed government and squabbles. The accusations were largely done by young women, but they were investigated by civil authorities, not by clerical ones. All the trials were conducted by civil authorities, as were the judges and jury. The clerics were largely on the sidelines, trying with little success to warn that the evidence on which people were being accused and convicted was flawed. Worst of all, the leading cleric for the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Increase Mather, the president of Harvard College, was in England when the events broke out. By the time he arrived it was difficult to rein them in.

There are many other excellent books on the subject, but this is the best reference for the details regarding the case, how it started, and why it developed the way it did. Even if you feel no need to read the book from cover to cover, it is a very good reference to consult as you read of events in other books.
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53 people found this helpful

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karen m
Love this book
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2016
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Hailing from Salem MA, I have always thought of Marion Starkey's book, "The Devil in Massachusetts" as the definitive narrative of the witchcraft hysteria in the 1600's. This book takes the information one step further, providing a daily account of the happenings in Danvers and Salem during this period. It is written in a journal-like format and is meticulously researched. I am only half-way through this book and savoring every page.
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16 people found this helpful

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M. Gardner
Easy to read lots of details
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2017
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I checked this out at the library first then ordered the paperback. It is a lot to read but easy reading. I got it because I have several ancestors involved in this ugly business and I know little about it. Thought I'd find out. Its interesting and the way it is written is very good.
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13 people found this helpful

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readerman
She gives you a great feel for the many events that shaped peoples minds
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2014
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Excellant chronological review of the Salem trials. The author starts with a very detailed description of the history leading up to the actual trials. She gives you a great feel for the many events that shaped peoples minds, attitudes and emotions that built the foundation of fragility, distrust and paranoia in Salem in 1691 & 1692.
The author then rolls out the meat of the story and shows how the most mundane thing started this runaway train of confusion that snowballed so fast, Salem was engulfed in the whole affair before anyone really understood what was happening. People never looked at anyone the same way after this. It was surprising and fascinating to learn that people actually took advantage of the "opportunity" to get revenge on others for the most minute reasons. This episode really highlights the frailty of the human animal.
The author also gives you a good look into the personalities of the people involved. You see them change as time goes on. They start with the concept that they know whats going on and how to resolve it. Then, just as quickly, you see them get lost in something that is incomprehensible to them and start to question everything they believe in. You realize early on that there is nothing unique or unusual about them. Their just like you and me and we probably wouldn't act much different were it us.
People used the Bible heavily throughout this time period as a way to combat the evils they believed existed. Whats interesting is that if you read carefully, the quotes used throughout the book mirror the events that are unfolding. These Biblical quotes seem to tell the story as it's unfolding before your eyes and you find yourself being an armchair QB, yelling at these people to follow their own ultra-religious views and all this evil would simply go away.
This book is very heavy in details. There is an immense amount of information; events, dates, places and names that cannot be read, digested and understood easily. For myself, I find that books of this nature should be read quickly, not bothering too much with the details. Wait a couple weeks, then go back and read it again. You'll understand it much better and the finer points will not seem so overwhelming. Kind of like building up a tolerance to information overload.
The book is truely fascinating and digs into many area's that make it a complete work. Geography (yes, it's more important than you make think), international & domestic politics, law and of course psychology just to name a few. Anyone interested in this type of history will not find many authors better at explaining reals events than Marilynne Roach. Another great thing is that everything she writes about can be reaserched independently and you can get caught up in this story very easily. Lot of late nights in the library.
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14 people found this helpful

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Christine Karpoff-Nathaniel-Rafer-Fiennes
Very honest and well researched material by residents and descendants.
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2019
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Day by day accounts of facts and 25 year researched. Does NOT completely cover the true nature of WHY these things were allowed to happen---to steal victims ' property and money. Also never really covers WHY Giles Corey was PRESSED TO DEATH- and the true nature. And why the trials were brought to an end.
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4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

dontaskpcandy
How a descent into madness became a way of life: Kindle format
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a resource with a story to tell: the bystander who literally only came to watch and then was indited, the deaf person who missed her reprieve and the sea captain hero who rescued his wife are but three that spring to mind. The only comparable book that I have read was a sociology text detailing how Nazi party power was freely delivered by logical sensible communities genuinely believing it to be the best thing to do. Others look to these events in the 1680s as a symbol of the anti-communist searches of the 1950s, and I dare say there will depressingly be other parallels to be drawn in the future.
Read on the Kindle Touch the formatting is solid, thorough, and logical which would enable advanced history studies to be taken up with this as a text when using the notemaking box and the search this item box. Footnotes are clearly and consistently linked and backtrackable, the index and chapter divisions bullet proof and the chronological approach simply amazingly enlightening. This is how e-reading is supposed to work.
If you want cute dialogue go elsewhere, but make no mistake this is storytelling at its best. Be scared that it's all factually resourced events that really took place. Be scared out of your wits to understand how a few beliefs may be manipulated to hold an entire countryside community by the short and curlys. Shall we learn by example how hard it was to oppose? I wonder...
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Duncan Brown
Christmas present
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2021
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Brought for my mum she loves it!
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Judith Carey
Ok
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 11, 2019
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Ok
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David
Excellent Treatment
Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 2021
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A fine combination of serious scholarship and readability.
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K Parsons
invaluable resource
Reviewed in Canada on October 15, 2013
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This (sometimes) day-to-day chronicle of the Salem Witch Trials pulls in outside events - such as Indian and French massacres in nearby jurisdictions - to outline what was a very perilous and fearful time for our New England ancestors. It was fascinating to hear Roach tie in accusers who had been deeply traumatized in these attacks with their "visions" of the devil which resembled the attacking tribes.
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