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English Witchcraft, 1560-1736, vol 2 — Witchcraft Wicca

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English Witchcraft, 1560-1736, vol 2

Name: English Witchcraft, 1560-1736, vol 2
Price: 180.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781138753242

✍️ James Sharpe, Richard Golden

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A chronological collection documenting changing attitudes toward English witchcraft from 1560 to 1736.

This volume gathers historical material from Great Britain spanning 1560 to 1736. Compiled by James Sharpe and Richard Golden, the text focuses on European witchcraft, tracking the intellectual debate over witches and associated phenomena. Published by Routledge, the work outlines how educated opinions shifted from early modern prosecution toward widespread skepticism. It provides researchers with organized documentation of European mind, body, and spirit traditions without modern additions.

Key Themes

British witchcraft history European magick studies Decline in witch belief

Literary Context

Set in Great Britain between 1560 and 1736, this material reflects early modern European perspectives on witchcraft. The collection records a critical transition from active belief in witches toward educated skepticism during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Sharpe, James; , Golden, Richard

📚 all books by this author (5) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Keith Thomas's 'Religion and the Decline of Magic' · Brian Levack's 'The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe' · Scott G. Kerman's works on English legal history

🌙

Witchcraft & Wicca

🏛 Routledge 📅 2003 📖 368 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781138753242

Fun Fact

This scholarly work excels in meticulously charting the intellectual and social forces that led to the decline of witchcraft belief in England. It's a superb resource for those seeking a rigorous historical analysis, offering unparalleled academic depth. However, readers expecting lurid tales of magic or practical occult instruction will be disappointed. Its strength lies in its nuanced exploration of a pivotal cultural shift, positioning it as a definitive study in early modern history and the evolution of human thought.

📝 Description: English Witchcraft, 1560-1736, vol 2

Covering the years 1560 through 1736, James Sharpe and Richard Golden organize this volume chronologically to chart how views on witchcraft shifted over time. The material documents an evolving debate among educated observers regarding the reality of witchcraft, ultimately showing the gradual decline in belief in witches and related phenomena across Great Britain. As a professor and historian specializing in early modern English history, Sharpe brings academic authority to this historical collection published by Routledge. This 368-page hardcover compiles documents that trace European and British magick studies across nearly two centuries. Readers can track how public and scholarly perspectives altered from the Elizabethan era into the early eighteenth century, making it a focused sourcebook for historic witch trials and regional folk beliefs. This text suits readers seeking historical primary sources, academic research on European witchcraft, or precise documentation of legal and cultural shifts in Great Britain. It does not suit practitioners looking for spellbooks, modern ritual guides, or practical instruction in contemporary magick.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This scholarly work offers a detailed exploration of the dramatic decline in witchcraft belief from 1560 to 1736, tracing how societal perceptions evolved through legal and intellectual pressures. It is a valuable resource for academic historians and specialists in early modern European studies who require precise documentation of this cultural shift. However, it does not suit casual readers seeking narrative drama or those looking for practical Wiccan lore. The focus on eroding convictions rather than active practice may disappoint enthusiasts of occult history who prefer tales of persecution or magical ritual over abstract intellectual discourse. It is a dry, analytical text best reserved for those specifically investigating the sociological and theological roots of declining superstition.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Scholars, historians, and deeply curious readers interested in the intellectual shifts of early modern England will find immense value in this meticulous examination. This book is essential for those seeking to understand how educated discourse gradually dismantled widespread conviction in witches and their dark practices. It offers profound insights into the complex interplay of legal, religious, and intellectual forces that reshaped societal perceptions of magic. By tracing the erosion of supernatural explanations for misfortune, it provides a necessary context for understanding the transformation of national thought regarding the occult. Readers who appreciate rigorous historical analysis and the nuances of changing cultural narratives will gain a deeper appreciation for this pivotal period in English history.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're fascinated by the history of magic, the evolution of societal fears, or the intellectual currents that shaped early modern England, this deep dive offers unparalleled insight. It's essential for historians, occult scholars, and curious minds seeking rigorous academic exploration.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This scholarly work offers a detailed exploration of the dramatic decline in witchcraft belief from 1560 to 1736, tracing how societal perceptions evolved through legal and intellectual pressures. It is a valuable resource for academic historians and specialists in early modern European studies who require precise documentation of this cultural shift. However, it does not suit casual readers seeking narrative drama or those looking for practical Wiccan lore. The focus on eroding convictions rather than active practice may disappoint enthusiasts of occult history who prefer tales of persecution or magical ritual over abstract intellectual discourse. It is a dry, analytical text best reserved for those specifically investigating the sociological and theological roots of declining superstition.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, this academic work offers a historical analysis of societal attitudes towards witchcraft in England from 1560-1736, not a guide to magical practice. It dissects the cultural and intellectual shifts that led to its decline.

While volume 1 provides earlier context, this second volume stands alone as a comprehensive study of the specific period it covers, focusing specifically on the era of declining belief and changing legal perspectives. It is fully accessible as an independent work.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Shifting Belief Systems

This volume meticulously details how the collective English psyche transitioned from fervent belief in active malefic witchcraft to skepticism. It explores the intellectual and social currents that slowly but surely chipped away at deeply ingrained superstitions, illustrating a pivotal moment in the history of ideas concerning the supernatural.

Legal & Social Evolution

The book examines the changing legal frameworks and judicial attitudes towards alleged witches, highlighting the gradual decriminalization and reinterpretation of magical practices. It reveals how societal norms and legal precedent adapted to a diminishing belief in supernatural harm, reflecting broader transformations in governance and public justice during the period.

The Enlightenment's Dawn

This work positions the decline of witchcraft belief within the broader context of emerging Enlightenment thought. It illustrates how rational inquiry, scientific advancements, and philosophical debates began to challenge and ultimately displace traditional, fear-based understandings of the occult, paving the way for a more secular worldview.

📜 Historical context

This volume contributes significantly to the study of early modern European witchcraft, building upon foundational works that explore the 'witch craze' and its eventual wane. It specifically details the English experience, providing a vital counterpoint and precise case study within the broader narrative of magic's transformation from accepted reality to dismissed superstition in Western thought.

📚 Glossary

Maleficium
Witchcraft Acts
Enlightenment

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might a similar shift in belief systems occur in our modern society regarding a currently accepted but potentially unfounded fear or superstition?
Consider the role of the legal system in both propagating and eventually dismantling widespread societal beliefs like witchcraft. What parallels exist today?
If you lived in 17th-century England, how do you imagine your own worldview would have adapted to the changing perceptions of magic and the supernatural?