6W Peter Haining. London; Robert Hale & Company, 1974.

Notes

The Witchcraft Papers: Contemporary Records of the Witchcraft Hysteria in Essex, 1560–1700 (1974) by Peter Haining is a meticulously curated anthology of original documents that chronicles the witch trials and persecutions that swept through Essex, England, over more than a century. Drawing on trial transcripts, parish records, letters, pamphlets, and eyewitness accounts, Haining reconstructs the atmosphere of fear and superstition that gripped early modern England, particularly under the influence of notorious witchfinder Matthew Hopkins. His commentary situates these records within their historical and social context, exposing how religious extremism, local rivalries, and economic hardship fed the witchcraft hysteria. The collection serves as both a documentary history and a haunting reminder of the dangers of collective fear and moral panic.

Description

Green cloth finding deals lettering to spine. Pictorial dust jacket. Fine condition.