The Salem Witch Trials: A Reference Guide
Grade 9 Up—In order to give readers a broad foundation upon which to understand the social, historical, and psychological aspects of the trials, Goss provides a comprehensive examination of this intriguing subject, discussing the roots of the belief in witchcraft from the later Middle Ages through the 17th century, precedents in Britain and New England before 1692, and the Salem Witch trials from early 1692 through the end of May 1693 and beyond. In his well-balanced tome, the author includes interpretations of the trials from the earliest historians to late-20th-century analysis. An array of relevant and instructive black-and-white photos and illustrations enhances the text. Fifty court-related primary documents, selectively detailed biographies of key trial figures, an annotated bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and an accurate chronology, glossary, and index are all appended. This meticulously researched book would work well as a supplement to Marilynne K. Roach's outstandingThe Salem Witch Trials(Cooper Square, 2002). Through the use of diaries, journals, and letters, Roach reconstructs daily life during the trials and examines historical details such as conflicts between church congregations and ministers and the origins of the hysteria in conflicts of the day.—Hillary Jan Donitz-Goldstein, formerly at New York Public LibraryCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.