Witchcraft Narratives in Germany - (Studies in Early Modern European History) by Alison Rowlands (Paperback)

About the Book

Explores restrained witch-trials in Rothenburg, revealing social tensions, beliefs about magic and illness, and offering a new explanation for the gender bias in early modern European witchcraft accusations.

Book Synopsis

Looks at why witch-trials failed to gain momentum and escalate into 'witch-crazes' in certain parts of early modern Europe. Exames the rich legal records of the German city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a city which experienced a very restrained pattern of witch-trials and just one execution for witchcraft between 1561 and 1652. Explores the social and psychological conflicts that lay behind the making of accusations and confessions of witchcraft. Offers insights into other areas of early modern life, such as experiences of and beliefs about communal conflict, magic, motherhood, childhood and illness. Offers a critique of existing explanations for the gender bias of witch-trials, and a new explanation as to why most witches were women.

From the Back Cover

'This book remains a masterpiece in its combination of close source readings and excellent microanalysis. It corrects the popular misconception of a widespread witch craze in Europe and offers deep insights into the history of witchcraft and gender relations using the case study of early modern Rothenburg ob der Tauber.'
--Professor Rita Voltmer, University of Trier, Germany

'Historians of witchcraft often investigate the rise of persecution. This book explores the opposite, untold story of how rumours of witchcraft were stopped from becoming witch trials, and how witch trials were prevented from escalating into witch hunts. Its approach is both brilliantly innovative and tragically useful for modern readers!'
--Professor Raisa Toivo, University of Tampere, Finland

Looks at why witch-trials failed to gain momentum and escalate into 'witch-crazes' in certain parts of early modern Europe. Exames the rich legal records of the German city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a city which experienced a very restrained pattern of witch-trials and just one execution for witchcraft between 1561 and 1652. Explores the social and psychological conflicts that lay behind the making of accusations and confessions of witchcraft. Offers insights into other areas of early modern life, such as experiences of and beliefs about communal conflict, magic, motherhood, childhood and illness. Offers a critique of existing explanations for the gender bias of witch-trials, and a new explanation as to why most witches were women.

Review Quotes

'This book remains a masterpiece in its combination of close source readings and excellent microanalysis. It corrects the popular misconception of a widespread witch craze in Europe and offers deep insights into the history of witchcraft and gender relations using the case study of early modern Rothenburg ob der Tauber.'
--Professor Rita Voltmer, University of Trier, Germany

'Historians of witchcraft often investigate the rise of persecution. This book explores the opposite, untold story of how rumours of witchcraft were stopped from becoming witch trials, and how witch trials were prevented from escalating into witch hunts. Its approach is both brilliantly innovative and tragically useful for modern readers!'
--Professor Raisa Toivo, University of Tampere, Finland

About the Author

Alison Rowlands is Professor in European History at the University of Essex