Book description
In his remarkable and compelling interpretation of the course and causes of the fear and persecution of witches that bedeviled Europe for centuries, Briggs draws on the latest research into the local realities underlying the phenomenon. In particular, he employs his own extensive work in the rich archives hidden away…
Why read it?
1 author picked Witches & Neighbors as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This book should never go out of print, and for good reason: it is so smart and so very readable.
Briggs persuasively assesses the village contexts that played into witchcraft accusations and confessions in early modern Europe.
He clearly explains the crucial contexts of debt, feuds, and local relationships behind witchcraft allegations, and provides important insights into questions of gender and age. His evidence is compelling.
From Lu's list on The best books about the trauma of European witch-hunting.
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