Books like Instruments of darkness by Sharpe, J. A.
Instruments of Darkness brings the 17th‑century witch trials back to life, using court documents and contemporary sources to map how witchcraft was perceived across the spectrum of society. Sharpe shows that the accused were overwhelmingly poor, elderly women, while many accusers were women themselves, challenging simple male‑persecution narratives. The book traces the gradual collapse of witchcraft prosecutions as jurists grew skeptical, religious attitudes shifted, and early scientific explanations entered public discourse. By situating the East Anglian trials of 1645‑47 and other episodes within their broader social context, the study deepens our understanding of how a contested belief system intertwined with legal, religious, and scientific developments.
First publish date: 1996
Genre: History/Modern History
Authors: Sharpe, J. A.
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