Witches

A History of Witchcraft, Witch-Hunters, and a King's Obsession: 1562-1735

Steven Veerapen

A vivid history of witches from the explosion of trials under King James VI to the end of the witch-hunting phenomenon in the early 1700s.

Witches—whether broomstick-riding spell-casters or Wiccan earth-worshippers—have been culturally relevant for centuries. For centuries, too, belief in the potency of witchcraft has been debated; accused witches have been hunted and punished; and film productions have brought the witch and the witch-hunter to the heights of popular culture.

But where did our perception of witches—good and bad—come from? What motivated wide-scale panics about witchcraft during certain periods? How were alleged witches identified, accused, and variously tortured and punished?

Steven Veerapen traces witches, witchcraft, and witch-hunters from the explosion of mass-trials under King James VI and I in the late sixteenth century to the death of the witch-hunting phenomenon in the early eighteenth century. Based on documents and the latest historical research, he explores what motivated widespread belief in demonic witchcraft throughout Britain and Europe, what caused mass panics about alleged witches, and what led, ultimately, to the relegation of the witch—and the witch-hunter—to the realm of fantasy and the fringes of society.

Steven Veerapen lives in Glasgow. Pursuing an interest in the sixteenth century, he was awarded a first-class honors degree in English for writing his dissertation on representations of Henry VIII’s six wives. He is the author of The Wisest Fool: The Lavish Life of James VI and I. Witches is his first book published in America.

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Endorsements & Reviews

Praise for Witches:

“An insightful, brilliant account—and analysis—of a dark chapter in history. In Veerapen’s hands, the specter of the witch and the witch-hunter are brought to life, as are the complex and fascinating details of how King James and his people saw the supernatural world. Bone-chilling and compelling.” Gareth Russell, author of Queen James: The Life and Loves of Britain's First King