“A transcendent travelogue that guides readers through the history, places, and people of many of the witch hunts and how their legacy continues to impact us today.”—Pam Grossman, author of Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power
Between the 15th and 17th centuries, a confluence of political, economic, and religious factors ignited witch hysteria like a wildfire across Europe and, later, parts of America. And women were disproportionately punished as a result. At the heart of the witch hunts were dangerous misconceptions about femininity and female sexuality. Today, this lineage of oppression remains an important reference point for all those who contemplate feminism, women’s rights—and human rights—in the Western world and beyond.
Traveling through cities and sites across Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Kristen J. Sollée—a second-generation witch herself—explores the witch as a figure of female power and persecution. By infusing an adventurous first-person narrative with extensive research and imaginative historical fiction, Sollée (author of Witches, Sluts, Feminists) makes an often-overlooked period of history come alive.
Witch Hunt isn’t only an exploration of the horrors of this history, but it also uncovers how the archetype of the witch has been rehabilitated. For witches are not just haunting figures of the past; the witch is also a liberatory icon and identity of the present.
Witch Hunt
A Traveler's Guide to the Power and Persecution of the Witch
$24.95
740 in stock
Book Details
Pages |
256 Pages |
---|---|
Size | x 6 |
Format | Hardback - With dust jacket |
Pub. Date | 10/12/2020 |
ISBN | 978-1-57863-699-0 |
Publisher |
“There is now a very clear need for a travel guide which deals with places associated with historic and contemporary views of witchcraft; and therefore it is a real pleasure to find one so extensive, well-written, well-informed, and good humored.” —Ronald Hutton, author of The Witch
“Sollée powerfully brings history to life through robust research and visceral visits to the lands of the witch hunts. Her on-foot and scholarly searching makes this book a page turner, sensitively reckoning the contemporary celebration of witchiness with the reality of a horrific past. It is an uneasy and often painful journey, but also one of insight and even beauty. Witch Hunt is a necessary addition to the new canon of works making sense of the witch.” —Taisia Kitaiskaia, author of Literary Witches
“Sollée writes with a deep respect for those whose lives were lost in the name of witchcraft, and a wide, wild love for those of us who see the modern resurgence of the witch as a signpost for a better, freer future. In doing so, our intrepid tour guide proves once again that infusing rigorous historical research with an unfettered, generous spirit creates a magic potion indeed. This book exceeded my sky-high hopes and has quickly flown to the top of my list of bewitching favorites.” —Pam Grossman, author of Waking the Witch and host of The Witch Wave podcast "Kristen Sollée (author of Witches, Sluts, Feminists) explores the archetype of the witch in this entertaining mix of travel guide, journal, and ghost story collection. Highlights include an examination of the divination culture of Italy, including the tarot-dedicated Museo dei Tarocchi in Bologna, and of England’s occultism, including the Chelsea Physic Garden in London, where “the occult is inseparable from the landscape.” Historical figures such as Joan of Arc in France and Dame Alice in Ireland are recast as early examples of gender-fluidity and powerful women who were killed by fearful men. These and other historic women are featured in fictionalized ‘visions’ that overcome Sollée, and work as a narrative device in which the dead impart knowledge of their craft and details of their often violent fates. While the author admits these scenes are fantastical, they nicely round out and give context to the catalogue of sites visited."—Publishers Weekly
“Kristen J. Sollée takes the reader on an imaginative and historical quest across continents to follow the trail of witches—the legendary, the self-professed, and the falsely accused—on and off the beaten path, sharing traces of their presences in our everyday world. It made me want to pack my bags.” —Marilynne K. Roach, author of Six Women of Salem