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Witchcraft and Folk Belief in the Age of Enlightenment: Scotland, 1670-1740 (2016) — Witchcraft Wicca

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Witchcraft and Folk Belief in the Age of Enlightenment: Scotland, 1670-1740 (2016)

Name: Witchcraft and Folk Belief in the Age of Enlightenment: Scotland, 1670-1740 (2016)
Price: 139.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781349593132

✍️ Henderson, Lizanne

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A scholarly look at surviving Scottish witch beliefs from 1670 to 1740

Henderson uses an interdisciplinary lens to explore how folk belief endured in Scotland long after the peak of witch trials. The work connects historical analysis with cultural studies, including ballads and diaspora narratives. It addresses the gap in understanding post-1662 Scottish society by looking at everyday life and supernatural imagination. The author brings her expertise in Scottish history and culture to this detailed investigation of a misunderstood period.

Key Themes

Scottish witchcraft folk belief Enlightenment era

Literary Context

This work focuses on Scotland during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, specifically the years 1670 through 1740. It examines the cultural and social history of Great Britain during a period traditionally viewed as the dawn of the Enlightenment.

Henderson, Lizanne

📚 all books by this author (2) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Brian Levack · Lyndal Roper · Ruth Berman

🌙

Witchcraft & Wicca

🏛 Palgrave MacMillan 📅 2020 📖 382 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781349593132

Fun Fact

Henderson's work is a masterclass in challenging historical assumptions, meticulously demonstrating that the Age of Reason wasn't a sudden death knell for magical belief in Scotland. Scholars of social history and witchcraft studies will find this an indispensable, deeply researched contribution. Those seeking sensational tales of witch trials or practical guides to folk magic will be disappointed, as this is a rigorous academic examination. It firmly establishes itself as the definitive account of Scottish folk belief during this transitional period.

📝 Description: Witchcraft and Folk Belief in the Age of Enlightenment: Scotland, 1670-1740 (2016)

Lizanne Henderson, a cultural historian at the University of Glasgow and editor of Review of Scottish Culture, examines the persistence of witchcraft beliefs in Scotland after 1670. Her previous works include Scottish Fairy Belief: A History and Fantastical Imaginations: The Supernatural in Scottish History and Culture. This study challenges the narrative that the Enlightenment era marked a swift decline in such practices by investigating the period post-1662 with an interdisciplinary approach. The book draws on extensive historical sources to trace how folk beliefs survived alongside emerging scientific thought. Henderson analyzes the transition from earlier witch-hunt periods into the eighteenth century, focusing on the lived experiences of ordinary people rather than just legal proceedings. The text covers topics such as ballads, critical animal studies, and the broader context of Scottish diaspora culture. It situates these beliefs within the social history of Great Britain during a time often assumed to be rational and enlightened. This volume suits readers interested in European social history, religious history, and the specific cultural landscape of Scotland between 1670 and 1740. It is particularly relevant for those studying the intersection of science and religion in early modern Europe. The book does not focus on contemporary witchcraft practices or provide a step-by-step guide to magical rituals. Instead, it offers a scholarly examination of historical mindsets and cultural continuities in Scotland during this specific timeframe.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Lizanne Henderson delivers a rigorous, scholarly examination that is essential for academic audiences but may prove dense for casual readers seeking a narrative-driven history. The book’s strength lies in its meticulous reconstruction of a misunderstood era, yet its academic tone and interdisciplinary methodology require patience and focus. It does not suit those looking for sensationalist accounts of witch trials or light reading on Wicca. Instead, it offers a sobering, evidence-based correction to popular myths. Readers expecting a straightforward chronicle of events may find the thematic analysis demanding. However, for those interested in the sociological resilience of belief systems, this text is an indispensable, if intellectually heavy, contribution to understanding the true nature of Scotland’s Enlightenment.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the complex interplay between reason and superstition will find this book invaluable. It is particularly suited for historians, sociologists, and enthusiasts of Scottish culture who wish to understand how traditional folk magic survived and adapted during a pivotal century. Henderson’s interdisciplinary approach offers a nuanced view that corrects common misconceptions about the rapid demise of witchcraft beliefs. By meticulously examining the period from 1670 to 1740, the text reveals how these practices continued to shape societal norms long after the peak of persecutions. If you seek to move beyond simple narratives of progress and enlightenment, this study provides a necessary, grounded perspective on the enduring power of the occult in early modern life.

⭐ 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 nuanced intersections of history, belief systems, and social change, and curious about how 'rationality' truly impacted magical traditions, this book is for you. It's an essential read for anyone exploring the enduring power of folk wisdom.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Lizanne Henderson delivers a rigorous, scholarly examination that is essential for academic audiences but may prove dense for casual readers seeking a narrative-driven history. The book’s strength lies in its meticulous reconstruction of a misunderstood era, yet its academic tone and interdisciplinary methodology require patience and focus. It does not suit those looking for sensationalist accounts of witch trials or light reading on Wicca. Instead, it offers a sobering, evidence-based correction to popular myths. Readers expecting a straightforward chronicle of events may find the thematic analysis demanding. However, for those interested in the sociological resilience of belief systems, this text is an indispensable, if intellectually heavy, contribution to understanding the true nature of Scotland’s Enlightenment.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While acknowledging the preceding trials, this study primarily investigates the period *after* the intense persecutions (post-1662), focusing on the persistence and evolution of beliefs rather than the judicial process itself.

The investigation is deeply rooted in the specific context of Scotland, providing an in-depth, localized analysis. However, its conclusions offer valuable insights that resonate with broader discussions about belief systems across Enlightenment Europe.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Enlightenment & Witchcraft

This work explores the unexpected coexistence of burgeoning scientific thought and enduring magical practices in Scotland. It challenges the conventional view that the Age of Enlightenment automatically eradicated belief in witchcraft, revealing a more complex interplay where old traditions adapted rather than vanished, even as intellectual currents shifted towards rationality.

Scottish Folk Beliefs

The book offers an intimate look at the specific magical traditions and supernatural convictions that permeated Scottish society after the major witch trials. It details how these deeply ingrained folk beliefs, distinct from formal religious dogma, continued to influence daily life, community interactions, and individual worldviews during a period of significant social change.

Persistence of Belief

Henderson counters the popular notion that witchcraft beliefs simply faded away after the peak of the witch hunts. Instead, she demonstrates their remarkable resilience and transformation, illustrating how these practices and fears continued to manifest in various forms, albeit with altered legal and social consequences, well into the eighteenth century.

📜 Historical context

This volume is a crucial addition to the study of early modern witchcraft, specifically addressing the under-examined post-1662 period in Scotland. It reframes our understanding of the 'decline' narrative, offering a detailed perspective on how magical beliefs transitioned from legal persecution to social phenomenon, setting the stage for later romantic and folkloric interpretations of the supernatural.

📚 Glossary

Enlightenment
Folk Belief
Interdisciplinary

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might the persistence of folk beliefs in an 'enlightened' age challenge our modern assumptions about the linearity of progress and rationality?
Consider how similar 'supernatural' beliefs or practices might subtly persist in contemporary society, even amidst dominant scientific paradigms. Where do you see them?
Reflect on the difference between formal persecution of witchcraft and its continued, albeit altered, social presence. What does this tell us about the nature of belief?