Bibliograph

The ruin of all witches, life and death in the New World, Malcolm Gaskill

Type

Label

The ruin of all witches, life and death in the New World, Malcolm Gaskill

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references and index

resource.biographical

contains biographical information

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The ruin of all witches

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

1296531648

Responsibility statement

Malcolm Gaskill

Sub title

life and death in the New World

Summary

"A gripping story of a family tragedy brought about by witch-hunting in Puritan New England that combines history, anthropology, sociology, politics, theology and psychology. In Springfield, Massachusetts in 1651, peculiar things begin to happen. Precious food spoils, livestock ails, property vanishes, and people suffer convulsions as if possessed by demons. A woman is seen wading through the swamp like a lost soul. Disturbing dreams and visions proliferate. Children sicken and die. As tensions rise, rumours spread of witches and heretics and the community becomes tangled in a web of distrust, resentment and denunciation. The finger of suspicion soon falls on a young couple with two small children: the prickly brickmaker, Hugh Parsons, and his troubled wife, Mary. Drawing on rich, previously unexplored source material, Malcolm Gaskill vividly evokes a strange past, one where lives were steeped in the divine and the diabolic, in omens, curses and enchantments. The Ruin of All Witches captures an entire society caught in agonized transition between superstition and enlightenment, tradition and innovation"--, Provided by publisher

Table Of Contents

A voice that said 'death' -- Here we must be happy -- Temptations of desire -- Sleeveless errands -- I hear my child is dead -- Strange dreams -- That dumb dog -- Converse with the devil -- New Witchland -- Epilogue: An end to all affection

Classification