Man As Witch

Witch-hunts in Central Europe were by no means focused only on women; one in four alleged witches was male. This study analyzes and describes the witch trials of men in French and German-speaking regions, opening up a little known chapter of early modern times, and revealing the conflicts from which witch-hunts of men evolved.

This book critiques historians’ assumptions about witch-hunting as well as their explanations for this complex and perplexing phenomenon. It shows that large numbers of men were accused of witchcraft in their own right, in some regions, more men were accused than women. The authors insist on the centrality of gender, tradition, and ideas about witches in the construction of the witch as a dangerous figure. They challenge the marginalization of male witches by feminist and other historians.

In 1631, at the epicenter of the worst excesses of the European witch-hunts, Friedrich Spee, a Jesuit priest, published the Cautio Criminalis, a book speaking out against the trials that were sending thousands of innocent people to gruesome deaths. Spee, who had himself ministered to women accused of witchcraft in Germany, had witnessed firsthand the twisted logic and brutal torture used by judges and inquisitors. Combined, these harsh prosecutorial measures led inevitably not only to a confession but to denunciations of supposed accomplices, spreading the circle of torture and execution ever wider. Driven by his priestly charge of enacting Christian charity, or love, Spee sought to expose the flawed arguments and methods used by the witch-hunters. His logic is relentless as he reveals the contradictions inherent in their arguments, showing there is no way for an innocent person to prove her innocence. And, he questions, if the condemned witches truly are guilty, how could the testimony of these servants and allies of Satan be reliable? Spee’s insistence that suspects, no matter how heinous the crimes of which they are accused, possess certain inalienable rights is a timeless reminder for the present day. The Cautio Criminalis is one of the most important and moving works in the history of witch trials and a revealing documentation of one man’s unexpected humanity in a brutal age. Marcus Hellyer’s accessible translation from the Latin makes it available to English-speaking audiences for the first time. Studies in Early Modern German History

Mona Chollet's In Defense of Witches is a “brilliant, well-documented” celebration (Le Monde) by an acclaimed French feminist of the witch as a symbol of female rebellion and independence in the face of misogyny and persecution. Centuries after the infamous witch hunts that swept through Europe and America, witches continue to hold a unique fascination for many: as fairy tale villains, practitioners of pagan religion, as well as feminist icons. Witches are both the ultimate victim and the stubborn, elusive rebel. But who were the women who were accused and often killed for witchcraft? What types of women have centuries of terror censored, eliminated, and repressed? Celebrated feminist writer Mona Chollet explores three types of women who were accused of witchcraft and persecuted: the independent woman, since widows and celibates were particularly targeted; the childless woman, since the time of the hunts marked the end of tolerance for those who claimed to control their fertility; and the elderly woman, who has always been an object of at best, pity, and at worst, horror. Examining modern society, Chollet concludes that these women continue to be harrassed and oppressed. Rather than being a brief moment in history, the persecution of witches is an example of society’s seemingly eternal misogyny, while women today are direct descendants to those who were hunted down and killed for their thoughts and actions. With fiery prose and arguments that range from the scholarly to the cultural, In Defense of Witches seeks to unite the mythic image of the witch with modern women who live their lives on their own terms.

In the 1600s, Maria was abandoned in a snowy field in rural England as a baby. Under the care of Hannah Owens, who recognizes that Maria has a gift, she learns about the 'Unnamed Arts.' When Maria is abandoned by the man who has declared his love for her, she follows him to Salem, Massachusetts. She invokes a curse that will haunt her family for generations. And she learns the lesson that she will carry with her for the rest of her life: Love is the only thing that matters.

Men – as accused witches, witch-hunters, werewolves and the demonically possessed – are the focus of analysis in this collection of essays by leading scholars of early modern European witchcraft. The gendering of witch persecution and witchcraft belief is explored through original case-studies from England, Scotland, Italy, Germany and France.

Just in time for Halloween, an adorable little witch has landed in YOUR book—now in board! An engaging new adventure from the team that brought you There's a Monster in Your Book and its companions. A grumpy little witch has thrown a magic spell at you! If you can capture it, you can use your finger wand to make magic yourself in this participatory book. But, be careful! Your bewitched finger wand might be more powerful than you think! This book shows how tidying up can be fun! Look for every book in Tom Fletcher and Greg Abbott's Who's In Your Book? series for more read-aloud fun! INTERACTIVE ADVENTURES FOR BIG IMAGINATIONS: There's a Monster in Your Book There's a Dragon in Your Book There's an Elf in Your Book There's an Alien in Your Book There's a Superhero in Your Book There's a Unicorn in Your Book Tom Fletcher is one of Britain's bestselling children's authors (in addition to being a rock star!), and his YouTube videos have been viewed tens of millions of times.

A mysterious and captivating tale of love, fear and superstition set in the Icelandic wilderness . . . 'An Icelandic Jane Eyre' SUNDAY TIMES 'Gripped me in a cold fist. Beautiful' SARA COLLINS 'Enthralling' STACEY HALLS 'Moving and atmospheric' LAURA PURCELL ________ 1686, Iceland. When Rósa is betrothed to Jón Eiríksson, she is sent to a remote village. There she finds a man who refuses to speak of his recently deceased first wife, and villagers who view her with suspicion. Isolated and disturbed by her husband's strange behaviour, her fears deepen. What is making the strange sounds in the attic? Who does the mysterious glass figure she is given represent? And why do the villagers fear the fast-approaching winter? . . . ________ 'A perfect, gripping winter read. I loved it' SOPHIE MACKINTOSH 'Crackles with tension. Moving and atmospheric, I couldn't put it down' LAURA PURCELL 'Memorable and compelling. A novel about what haunts us - and what should' SARAH MOSS, author of GHOST WALL 'Evocative, compelling, with a brilliant twist' DAILY EXPRESS 'Intensely written and atmospheric, with an unusual setting' DAILY MAIL 'A chilling tale' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 'Like a ghost story told around a winter fire' TIM LEACH, author of SMILE OF THE WOLF SHORTLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION DEBUT AWARD