Kathryn harrison, author of joan of arc once again stacy schiff dazzles us. The witches is a must read for anyone intrigued by this baffling and horrifying chapter from americas puritan past. History of witchcraft and demonology by montague summers this is a book i picked up at a used bookstore when i was a teenager. Witchcraft and witchhunts in history nonfiction 90 books.
The book follows mila flores and her best friend riley, who have always been. The full story of the salem witch trials by frances hill 15 times judge sewalls apology. Theres very little proven facts having anything to do with the witch trials so even from the most accurate source, some of t. The 5 best books about witches, according to undead girl. How to summon success, banish drama, and raise hell with your coven by jaya saxena and jess zimmerman september 12 for those of you looking for nonfiction witchy books, youre in luck. Theres a reason there are so many books about witches, many more than the 100 in this list. How can you manage totally nontraditional climatic events with traditional material. And then, whats not to love about having some fiction about witches, which many novels are now depicting witches in a more accurate albeit embellished light.
Jan 10, 2018 a discovery of witches, by deborah harkness when factions of supernatural creatures set their sights on a document that could give them the upper hand in a war, a reluctant witch must seek the protection of an equally reluctant vampire, her supposed mortal enemy. Robert calef in his more wonders of the invisible world by. The references in this article are unclear because of a lack of inline citations. Nonfiction content may be presented either objectively or subjectively, and may sometimes take the form of a story. The salem witch trials and the forming of an american conscience by richard francis 14 times six women of salem. Theres a reason there are so many books about witches.
Indeed, there are many books about wicca and identifying the best witchcraft books for beginners can be a challenging task for one to undertake. Witchcraft is practiced in several ways, and there are specific types of witchcraft or traditions. Witchcraft today is a nonfiction book written by gerald gardner. The bestsellers category features both fantastic fiction and nonfiction books, including new york times best sellers, usa today best selling books, and more. My favorite nonfiction books on witchcraftpaganism. These are books i have read, am reading, use for reference, or am wanting to read. Their foundation in popular and learned culture, 01500 1976. The first is a historical fiction novel, titled abigail accused. Sep 16, 20 two new books on the salem witch trials recently hit the shelves. Their authors independently of one another rewrote the history of witchcraft persecution by discovering that documents purportedly reporting on trials of witches in medieval toulouse were forgeries. Best books about the salem witch trials a history blog. Nonfiction article on the german witch trials in the 16th and 18th centuries 1500s1700s source. The untold story of the accused and their accusers in the salem witch trials by marilynne k.
The amount and variety of books about witchcraft has grown so much nowadays compared to 50 years ago or even 20 years ago. Published in 1954, witchcraft today recounts gardners thoughts on the history and the practices of the witch cult, and his claim to have met practicing witches in 1930s england. The penguin book of witches edited by katherine howe. And a lot of it focuses on topics and stories that you should know about so we thought it was time to give the genre a little love. Oct 21, 2016 join me as i go through five terrifying offerings from the non fiction shelf. Ronald huttons the witch is a profound meditation on this phenomenon. Aprils best books now, more than ever, is the time to lose yourself in a good book. Witch and wizard, by james patterson in a dystopian world of governmental control, wisty and whit allgood are siblings accused of being a witch and wizard.
While not as academically rigorous as some nonfiction on the trials, schiffs book is an engaging account of the events and a great starting place for those with little familiarity with the history of salem. The salem witch trials left a scar on americas imaginationa scar examined by multiple fiction and nonfiction narratives. Living modern traditional witchcraft by laura tempest zakroff, a little bit of auras. Browse and buy a vast selection of agatha christie books books and collectibles on. You may purchase the books on or directly from llewellyn worldwide. Im looking for readable, if not informative, non fiction books about witches.
Young people everywhere have been torn from their homes and forced to. May 08, 2018 if her latest ya release, undead girl gang, is any indication, lily anderson knows a thing or two about witches. His book witchcraft today is a worthy read, however, for seekers on any pagan path. Do you recommend any more books about the salem witch trials, fiction or nonfiction, that we missed. The witch of portobello is a disorganized, stream of consciousness, sometimes interesting, often boring book. Pulitzer prizewinning author stacy schiff collaborated with a team of eight researchers on this dense nonfiction work on the witch trials. Although not all of these are written by pagan or wiccan authors, all include elements of magic, witchcraft, paganism, or a combination of the three. A rather fun one is coming out this season, thanks to jaya saxena and jess zimmerman, authors of basic witches. From funny picture books to quirky and suspenseful middle grade novels to creepy young adult titles, theres something here to suit every witchloving reader. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Witch and wizard, by james patterson in a dystopian world of governmental control, wisty and whit allgood are siblings accused of being a witch. I recently completed a book called suffer a witch about the salem witches living in modern day boston.
Its a collection of historical documents, writings about the seventeenthcentury witch trials in the us. The salem witch trials and the american experience by emerson baker. Magickal howto books based on my personal traditions and beliefs, an eclectic and shamanic system of witchcraft. A story of the salem witch hunt, based on accused andover witch abigail dane faulkner. If you want be to write a chapter about something, let me know what you want me to write about. Shop historical crime books and collectibles abebooks. Its summertime, which means theres ample opportunity to do some reading. May 30, 2008 non fiction doesnt usually have heroes and heroines, however, witch the biograph of gerald gardener is pretty good. His book is a salutary reminder that the modern world. A life applies her descriptive prowess and flair for the dramatic to the salem witch trials. Witchcraft and witchhunts in history nonfiction this list is for nonfiction works that cover the history of witchcraft and witchhunts. Salem witch trials books tagged salem witch trials.
No limits on time periods covered, but all books should be nonfiction. A discovery of witches by deborah harkness, the witches of new york by ami mckay, the winter witch by paula brackston, th. Norman cohn, europes inner demons 1975, and richard kieckhefer, european witch trials. As is clear from the book s subtitle a history of fear, from ancient times to the present he sets the early modern european witch craze, and british witch trials in particular, within the broadest possible chronological framework. Im not a huge fan of hers, but this is a decent book on magic and spellcraft without really being too religious. Nonfiction titles the official website of ellen dugan. Thats also not to say i cant enjoy boy or man witch fiction. An inside view of coven working by carrie west and philip wright. B eing a witch or wizard in the potterverse, or in many other magical landscapes, is an exciting and desirable. Whether youre looking for a fictional fix after watching sabrina. Bustle 9 nonfiction books about ghosts that are guaranteed to haunt and shock you. Sep 27, 2017 while not as academically rigorous as some nonfiction on the trials, schiffs book is an engaging account of the events and a great starting place for those with little familiarity with the history of salem. If you want to learn more about witches, pick up one of these seven nonfiction books about religion, magic, healing, and more.
Browse and buy a vast selection of historical crime books and collectibles on. I know many have been impatiently waiting for the second book to. As autumn pushes the last bits of summer into the past and. Facing off against gradeschool bullies, religious zealots, and a were. Under contract, a demon makes a seemingly splitsecond decision that would change the life of a budding witch, and as she grows to become a powerful young woman, she begins to wonder if the demon knew what he was doing all along. Nonfictioncultural history books on magic, witches and.
Best nonfiction books about witches nonfiction history culture ask. A humorous paranormal romance jane madison series book by mindy klasky. Best paranormalurban fantasy books, vampires and werewolves and witches. Although some of the statements in witchcraft today should be taken with a grain of salt after all, gardner was a folklorist and that shines through in his writing its still one of the foundations that contemporary wicca is based on. Her nongifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting. The best books on witches and witchcraft, recommended by diane purkiss, oxford. This literary guide that will have you under a spell come halloween by christian holub and david.
Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Fortunately, there are plenty of those appearing this april. The penguin book of witches is unquestionably my favorite nonfiction book about witches. In the process of writing this book, i read every single book published about the salem witches, including the translation of the original d. Im specifically looking for recommendations for wellwritten, wellresearched cultural histories of things like magic, witches and witchcraft. A couple very good books from the 1970s on the origins of the fantasy of diabolical witchcraft are still worth reading. All of ellens books are available on both kindle and nook. Best nonfiction books about witches nonfiction history. Witchy books fiction and nonfiction to watch out for.
If youve got some free time this summer, check out some of these popular paganthemed fiction books and series. Witches are a fixture of the halloween tradition and since most witches are depicted as female, there are plenty of stories out there starring mighty girl witches. This is my book of shadows, containing everything i need to know about paganism, witchcraft, and spells. This book assigns a different goddess to each day of the year and then gives some information about what she represents, her festivals and how to celebrate that day. Apr 18, 2017 we read about the wicked witch of fairy tale, and then perhaps the teen witch who bumbles with newfound power, and then the mysterious but alluring adult witch. Witchcraft is growing at an ever accelerating rate, thanks in part to social media, independent publishers, bloggers, fashion, magazines and the media. Here are the best books about the salem witch trials. If you are looking for nonfiction books about the salem witch trials that best explain how this tragedy occurred, bakers salem novel examines american history and the trials in a much larger context. Witchy books fiction and nonfiction to watch out for this fall. Recently i was talking to someone about how i never really got around to reading many of the earlier paganwitchy books by authors whose names i knew, and knew were good resources. December 2011 learn how and when to remove this template message. Top five witchy nonfiction books the witch of howling creek. The top one or two books in each category are listed at the beginning of each page. An entertaining introduction into the history of witchcraft, this book looks back in time to the moment witches were thought to be at their most perilous.
But please be nice these may be different to your belief. In my insatiable search for books about witches, ive become fascinated by the many shapes the witch takes in fiction, and the intersections of thought about what it means to be a witch. Montague summers was a weird priest dude who was a true believer in the supernatural and the occult or maybe he just pretended for publicity, but who cares, really. I get so much about the salem witch trials and how to do kitchen magic, but thats not what im looking for. Best books about the salem witch trials rebecca beatrice brooks february 10, 2016 may 25, 2019 14 comments on best books about the salem witch trials if youre interested in learning more about the salem witch trials, you may want to read one of the many books published on the topic. Wikipedia and if you dont like that you can suck it. In addition to the top 10 nonfiction books listed above, i have put together more specific book recommendations by category. Are there any known witch heroes or heroines non fiction.
Books that cover witchhunts in a broader context i. Fall is fast approaching, which means halloween will be here before you know it, as will a flood of stories and products featuring broomriding, wartnosed, cursecasting witches. My favorite nonfiction books on witchcraftpaganism 96 books. My favorite nonfiction books on witchcraftpaganism 96. We list our favorite nonfiction and fiction for your reading pleasure. Download free witchcraft books on pdf the witchcraft network. The best books on witches five books expert recommendations. Zainab williams mar 24, 2016 though i still own a wood chest full of tarot cards, runes, herbs, and bits of dna from people who have crossed me kidding, i havent practiced since that day in my dorm room where i crushed wet marigolds on my eyes and didnt see fairies.
The best historical fiction books of all time prowritingaid. Nonfiction or non fiction is content that purports in good faith to represent truth and accuracy regarding information, events, or people. It does have chapters on rituals for gods and goddesses, but the main. Non fictioncultural history books on magic, witches and witchcraft. Non fiction childrens books hay festival telegraph bookshop. Cotton mather in the wonders of the invisible world, and by mr. Where to start with the worst witch books if you like fantasy stories set in magical, far away boarding schools that follow an unlikely hero and her friends, prepare to be enchanted by jill murphy s the worst witch series. Check out paste magazines pick for the top 19 in 19. Also, the fact that the author portrays the story as nonfiction in the beginning when its actually fiction pissed me off. Im looking for readable, if not informative, nonfiction books about witches. It began in 1692, over an exceptionally raw massachusetts winter, when a ministers daughter began to scream and convulse. The enchantments of witch fiction books the guardian. I found the stories and recollections fascinating and easy to read. She is the healer, the medicine woman, the bruja, the mother, the crafty instagrammer.