Witchcraft and Witchcraft Trials in Orkney and Shetland (Folklore History Series) — Witchcraft Wicca

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Witchcraft and Witchcraft Trials in Orkney and Shetland (Folklore History Series)

Name: Witchcraft and Witchcraft Trials in Orkney and Shetland (Folklore History Series)
Price: 35.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781528772549

✍️ Black, G F

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$35.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Delve into the stark historical reality of witchcraft accusations with this unique compilation of 17th-century court transcripts from the remote Scottish Isles of Orkney and Shetland. Penned in the original local vernacular, this volume meticulously chronicles the interrogations and fates of individuals—both men and women—ensnared in the era's pervasive fear. It lays bare the often-trivial pretexts that led to charges of maleficium, culminating in the brutal punishments endured by those deemed guilty. An unvarnished look at a dark chapter in folklore and legal history.

Black, G F

📚 all books by this author (2) →

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Witchcraft & Wicca

🏛 Bronson Press 📅 2022 📖 112 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781528772549

Fun Fact

This collection excels in its raw authenticity, presenting the unvarnished truth of the Orkney and Shetland witch trials directly from legal records. It powerfully conveys the human tragedy and societal fear of the era. However, readers expecting a modern analytical narrative or an easy, casual read may find its primary source format challenging. It’s an essential, though grim, resource for serious scholars of folklore, legal history, and the darker currents of human belief.

📝 Description: Witchcraft and Witchcraft Trials in Orkney and Shetland (Folklore History Series)

A collection of court documents from the witchcraft trials in Orkney and Shetland in the 1600s. Written in the local dialect, this volume contains a rare collection of typed court documents recording the trials of men and women accused of witchcraft. Reporting their crimes, their trials, and their punishments, this book details the trivial actions many people were arrested for and states the horrendous executions those found guilty faced.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Black’s compilation provides a stark, unflinching look at 17th-century witch trials through original legal records from Orkney and Shetland. While valuable for its historical accuracy and preservation of local vernacular, this work is not suited for readers seeking narrative entertainment or modern Wiccan practice guides. The dense nature of court transcripts and the grim subject matter may overwhelm those expecting a lighter folklore collection. It is strictly for academic or dedicated historical enthusiasts willing to engage with harrowing primary sources rather than accessible summaries.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is an essential resource for historians, folklorists, and those deeply interested in the grim realities of early modern European witchcraft trials. Readers who value unvarnished historical truth over sensationalized fiction will gain profound insight into the legal mechanisms and social fears of 17th-century Orkney and Shetland. By presenting original court transcripts in their local vernacular, the text offers an authentic, harrowing glimpse into the lives of those accused, revealing how trivial pretexts could lead to brutal punishments. It is ideal for scholars seeking primary data on maleficium charges and individuals fascinated by the intersection of law, religion, and folklore in remote Scottish communities.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you seek an unflinching, primary source account of the witch hunt era, this volume is indispensable. Historians, folklorists, and anyone fascinated by the grim realities of 17th-century social justice and the human cost of mass hysteria will find its contents profoundly affecting.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Black’s compilation provides a stark, unflinching look at 17th-century witch trials through original legal records from Orkney and Shetland. While valuable for its historical accuracy and preservation of local vernacular, this work is not suited for readers seeking narrative entertainment or modern Wiccan practice guides. The dense nature of court transcripts and the grim subject matter may overwhelm those expecting a lighter folklore collection. It is strictly for academic or dedicated historical enthusiasts willing to engage with harrowing primary sources rather than accessible summaries.

❓ Frequently asked questions

This volume primarily presents original, transcribed court documents, offering direct access to the historical records rather than an authorial analysis. While some contextual framing may exist, its core value lies in the raw, unfiltered testimonies and judicial proceedings.

The documents are presented in their original 17th-century local dialect. While this requires careful reading, the transcription makes them accessible to dedicated scholars and readers. It offers an authentic linguistic immersion into the period, rewarding patient study.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Witchcraft Trials & Justice

This collection offers an unvarnished view of the legal proceedings against accused witches. It exposes the biases, the flimsy evidence, and the often predetermined outcomes that characterized 17th-century justice, revealing how societal fear translated into formal accusations and severe penalties.

Social Fear & Accusation

Explore the fabric of community suspicion in the Orkney and Shetland Isles. The documents illuminate how everyday disputes or misfortunes could quickly escalate into charges of maleficium, shedding light on the psychological and social mechanisms that fueled widespread accusations against ordinary people.

Historical Folklore & Belief

Beyond the legal ramifications, these records provide a rare glimpse into local magical beliefs and folk practices of the period. They inadvertently preserve details of superstitions, perceived harms, and the cultural landscape that underpinned the era's understanding of witchcraft, offering rich material for folklorists.

📜 Historical context

These documents emerge from a 17th-century Europe gripped by widespread witch-hunting, a phenomenon particularly fervent in Scotland. The Orkney and Shetland trials, while geographically distinct, mirror broader societal anxieties concerning magic and deviance. This work serves as an invaluable primary source, offering a localized, unfiltered glimpse into the legal processes and human cost of this pan-European tragedy.

📚 Glossary

Maleficium
Assize
Kirk Session

📔 Questions to reflect on

How do these 17th-century accusations of witchcraft resonate with modern-day instances of social panic or scapegoating in your own understanding of history?
Considering the 'trivial actions' that often led to severe punishments, what does this collection reveal about the nature of justice and truth in historical contexts?
If you were a resident of Orkney or Shetland during this period, how might you have navigated the pervasive fear and suspicion to protect yourself or your community?