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Salem Story: Reading the Witch Trials of 1692
Paperback / softback
Main Details
Title |
Salem Story: Reading the Witch Trials of 1692
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Authors and Contributors |
By (author) Bernard Rosenthal
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Series | Cambridge Studies in American Literature and Culture |
Physical Properties |
Format:Paperback / softback | Pages:304 | Dimensions(mm): Height 230,Width 152 |
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Category/Genre | Literary studies - c 1500 to c 1800 Occult studies |
ISBN/Barcode |
9780521558204
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Classifications | Dewey:133.43097445 |
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Audience | Professional & Vocational | Tertiary Education (US: College) | |
Illustrations |
Worked examples or Exercises
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Publishing Details |
Publisher |
Cambridge University Press
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Imprint |
Cambridge University Press
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Publication Date |
29 September 1995 |
Publication Country |
United Kingdom
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Description
Salem Story engages the story of the Salem witch trials through an analysis of the surviving primary documentation and juxtaposes that against the way in which our culture has mythologized the events of 1692. Salem Story examines a variety of individual motives that converged to precipitate the witch hunt. The book also examines subsequent mythologies that emerged from the events of 1692. Of the many assumptions about the Salem Witch Trials, the most persistent one remains that they were precipitated by a circle of hysterical girls. Through an analysis of what actually happened, through reading the primary material, the emerging story shows a different picture, one where "hysteria" inappropriately describes the events and where accusing males as well as females participated in strategies of accusation and confession that followed a logical, rational pattern.
Reviews'The author's reflections on Salem's continuing symbolic resonance, make Salem Story thoroughly rewarding'. Times Literary Supplement
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