A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience (Pivotal Moments in American History)

This book has been sitting on my must read shelf since the year began. I have read the history of Salem and the Witch trails many times over the years and I still learn something new. This book is filled to brim with new information.Many books like to focus on victims, and some even focus on "the afflicted"; those that accused their neighbors of witchcraft. Professor Baker though goes much farther than that and talks about the judges, the people in power and in particular the two Mathers, Cotton and Increase, the learned ministers at the center of this storm.The term "A Perfect Storm" gets thrown around a lot, but here it is appropriate. There was so much going on here that made the witch craze happen here when it was dying out everywhere else. It really was the last gasp of a dying movement of the Old World in the New World.It was the start of the end of Pre-American Puritanism.In this book Salem and 1692 take on a level of cultural impact that the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 did in the United Kingdom.The book is long, 400+ pages, and full of names. But those names belonged to people and those people left others behind. So Prof. Baker also delves into the impact these witch trials had on the new experiment that would become America.This is easily one of those books you can read, do a little more research or reading on the subject elsewhere, and then come back to and learn something new still.If I have one complaint, and that is way too strong of a word, it is that the last chapter was not long enough. I would have loved to have learned more about the cultural impact of 1692 on modern culture and how it shaped America. But that would be a complete other book.Prof. Baker gives us not only a well researched and well-detailed book, he gives us a book that is easy to read and relate to. There was so much going on back in 1692 that we can relate to today.The history of Salem is the history of America. The witch trials of 1692 are also part of America; our darker past that some (like the town of Danvers to a degree) would like to forget.I also listened to the audio book. After listening to interviews with Prof. Baker I kinda wish he had narrated it himself.

If you're interested in learning about the Salem Witch hysteria of 1692/3, you'll find that bookstores and libraries are loaded with options, not to mention websites, podcasts and more - it can be overwhelming. (It's a topic worthy of so many books, of course!) Moreover, academic approaches to this period have varied widely over the last century, with more than a few pushing fairly fringe beliefs (i.e., "It was mold that made them do it!") into unjustified prominence or relying on incomplete records or rumors ("they were fortune-telling!") to advance arguments.Baker does none of that, with an accessible but scholarly look at the period and the hysteria. It's a solid, modern, thoughtful introduction to the period, covering all of the major bases including the run-up and aftermath, and drawing at least one fascinating parallel to present day.Instead of approaching the era on a straight timeline, he looks at it thematically - the accusers, the accused, the trials - making it easier to follow key trends and events as they unfold without being overwhelmed by Proctors, Putnams, etc.Since reading this, I've read a few other modern treatments of the Salem witch crisis; this remains my hands-down favorite, and the first one I'd recommend to anyone looking to learn more about this fascinating period in early American history.

I give it four stars because the content is there and it is a great book for those that want a general overview of what happened and why. Baker is a quality writer and historian. However this editor failed to do their job and there are many mistakes that distract one from the quality writing of the author. Sentence without spaces, typos, and words randomly inserted in wrong places here and there. The first 100 pages has multiple editorial mistakes. I am hoping the remaining 2/3rds are better. I will be avoiding books involving this editor in the future as it is pure laziness and detracts from the works credibility, unnecessarily so. I would hate for someone to start reading this book and return it just because the editor didn't, well, edit. One person complained about font size but it's equivalent to many well known paperback books such as Catcher in the Rye, Slaughterhouse Five, and the like. Fairly standard size in my opinion.The Salem witch trials were essentially a religious and political act of mass murder involving undesirables and opponents of the "afflicted". It just so happened that these "afflicted" were all directly related by blood or relationships and the accused had wronged them previously. This book does a great job of showing the issues at hand in detail instead of merely going over what happened. The sociopolitical and religious issues of the region and the direct area, the dominance of the accuser families in Salem Village, and the aftermath.

I bought this because it talks about my 9th great grandmother, Mary Perkins Bradbury but I soon found myself engrossed in the history. There was so much I had never come across before and it is all well sourced. Excellent for research but reads like a novel.

The book is well-researched and well-written. Lots of detail and more than I needed. It has a wonderful index (using about 7 or 8-point type face) and bibliography.However, the publisher sought to cut down the size of the book by using a 9 to 10 point font with tight kerning, no additional space between paragraphs, and very LARGE (dense) paragraphs. In short, there's damn little white space on the pages. I imagine the publisher's goal was to minimize the printing costs by condensing the book into a smaller form factor.When I purchase a trade paperback, I expect the typeface to be a reasonable size for reading. This book does not meet my expectations. I believe the publisher has done a disservice to the author.

Xmas present for my daughter

This book was recommended to me by the staff at the House of Seven Gables in Salem. It’s a great read, very detailed in terms of the history of Salem and Massachusetts generally, and meticulously researched with discussion of the individuals involved (including the afflicted, the accused and the judges). It presents a good review of scholarly literature on the Witch Trials and presents a comprehensive and sophisticated account and explanation of what happened. Despite its thoroughness, it’s very accessible and a gripping read.

Bought as a gift

Couldn't get past the second chapter. The writer does not make it easy. I read up to two books a week, on all sorts of topics but this book, albeit a fascinating take on the phenomenon was impossible to finish.

I just couldn’t get into it, so gave up. Not a lover of the authors writing style.