About the author
John Ewart Simpkins compiled "Witchcraft and Trials for Witchcraft in Fife," a volume of printed folklore documenting the witch trials conducted in the Scottish county of Fife between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, among the worst-affected regions during Scotland's witch persecutions. Reissued by Beston Press in editions dated 2010 and 2022, the book gathers primary source material and case records rather than offering a general narrative history, making it a reference work for readers interested in the documentary record of early modern Scottish witch trials. Little independent detail accompanies the catalogue listing beyond this compilation, and no other titles under this name appear in the sale list. The book sits within the broader tradition of county folklore collections assembled by local historians and folklore societies in the early twentieth century, and it will suit readers researching Scottish witchcraft history or regional folklore archives rather than general readers seeking narrative history.
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💬 What our editors say about John Ewart Simpkins's books
“Simpkins delivers a rigorous, albeit harrowing, account of the witchcraft trials in Fife, focusing on the systematic persecution of approximately 380 people. The text is valuable for its detailed uncovering of the tragic…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Witchcraft and Trials for Witchcraft in Fife;Examples of Printed Folklore
“This text provides a stark, unvarnished look at the judicial proceedings in Fife, detailing the brutal torture and execution that often culminated these trials. It is not for readers seeking comfort or lighthearted folklore;…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Witchcraft and Trials for Witchcraft in Fife;Examples of Printed Folklore
