A history of magic, witchcraft and the occult charts the narrative of one of the most interesting and often controversial subjects in the world; from ancient animal worship and shamanism, through alchemy and divination to modern Wicca and the resurgence of the occult in 21st-century literature, cinema, and television. Providing readers with a comprehensive, balanced, and unbiased account of everything from Japanese folklore and Indian witchcraft to...

Discusses the witchcraft trials in Salem in 1692, the events leading up to them, and how the trials have been viewed by different historians since then.

"The witch came to prominence--and often a painful death--in early modern Europe, yet her origins are much more geographically diverse and historically deep. In this landmark book, Ronald Hutton traces witchcraft from the ancient world to the early-modern stake. This book sets the notorious European witch trials in a wide and deep perspective and traces the major historiographical developments of witchcraft. Hutton, a renowned expert on ancient, medieval,...

"The witches almanac covers the history, persecutions, conjurings, and magic of some of history's most consequential witches, sorcerers, wizards, and mavericks. The lives and times of 360 of history's most important witches are explored and explained"--

In 1703 Sarah Cloyce, survivor of the Salem witchcraft hysteria presents her story to a special commission empowered to investigate the trials for witchcraft. The events leading to the trials and the suffering they caused are told in flashback fashion.

"Describes the people and events involved in the Salem witch trials. The reader's choices reveal the historical details from the perspectives of an accused witch, the family member of an accused witch, and an accuser"--Provided by publisher.