About the author
Gary K. Waite is the author of Heresy, Magic and Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe, first published in 2003 and reissued by both Bloomsbury and Red Globe Press. The book traces how early modern authorities' skepticism toward claims of an organised satanic witch sect gave way, over the course of the Reformation, to a climate in which fears of diabolical conspiracy took firmer hold. Waite connects this shift to the religious conflict and popular movements of reform and revolt that characterised the sixteenth century, situating witchcraft persecution within the broader history of heresy and magic rather than treating it as an isolated phenomenon. The book is aimed at readers of early modern European religious and social history, particularly those interested in how theological and political change shaped the treatment of magic and heresy, rather than at readers seeking narrative accounts of specific witch trials.
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💬 What our editors say about Gary K Waite's books
“Gary K. Waite delivers a dense, academic study that demands patience and historical context from its audience. While intellectually robust and vital for understanding the origins of witchcraft hysteria, this text is not suited…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Heresy, Magic and Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe (2003) Waite, Gary K
“Waite delivers a masterful analysis of the pivotal alchemy between faith and fear, exposing how religious terror birthed the witch hunts through political necessity rather than spiritual conviction. The work is dense with…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Heresy, Magic and Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe (2003) Waite, Gary K
