The Devil of Great Island: Witchcraft and Conflict in Early New England

Needed this for my research. The text itself is dense but rewarding — you get out what you put in. The material is presented clearly and the structure makes it easy to revisit key passages.

Came across this title in a footnote and had to track it down. I appreciated how the argument builds steadily from first principles. It rewards patience more than any book I've bought this year. Definitely recommend.

Bought this as a gift for my sister and ended up ordering a second copy for myself. The historical context alone makes it worth the price. Challenging in places, but never needlessly obscure.

Exactly what I was looking for. A text you study rather than simply read. Plenty of passages worth underlining; my copy is already full of margin notes. Highly recommend to serious students.

My book club chose this last month. I appreciated how the argument builds steadily from first principles. Delivery took a bit longer than quoted. Good, with the caveats above.

My book club chose this last month. There's real depth here that reveals itself on a second reading. The text itself is dense but rewarding — you get out what you put in. Shipping was quick too.

This book serves as an excellent corrective to simplistic narratives about witchcraft trials, providing a grounded look at the Lithobolia phenomenon in New Hampshire. However, readers seeking sensationalist ghost stories or theological debates may find the focus on social history and myth-busting dry. It is not for those who prefer clear-cut villains over complex community dynamics. The narrative effectively dissects how fear spread, but it requires patience with historical analysis rather than immediate supernatural thrills. Those interested in the sociological aspects of early colonial life will appreciate its rigor, while others might find the detailed examination of social fabric less engaging than the alleged demonic whispers themselves.