Customer Reviews
Witchcraft in Early Modern England by James Sharpe - By: , 11 Nov 2002 
In his introduction, Sharpe states that, 'even before the last witches were burnt, educated Europeans were trying to explain why the witch hunts had happened.'(Pg.3) This quest for knowledge & understanding forms the basis of Sharpe's latest work on this fascinating & complex subject. The author's intention is to provide the reader with a short introduction to the history of witchcraft, focusing on the period between 1563 & 1736, when witchcraft was a secular crimein England. Aimed primarily at undergraduates of history, this book would also be of value to students of other disciplines, requiring a straight forward & current overview of the main issues.
The book is clearly & logically organised & the writing is interesting & engaging, ensuring that it can easily be readin its entirety. The first chapter looks at witchcraft from 'above' & the perceptions of thosein authority such as the monarchy, the clergy & judges. Chapter two looks at witchcraft from 'below' & analyses the connections between witchcraft accusations & neighbourly tensions. This paradigm was introduced to the debatein the 1970's by Macfarlane & Thomas & caused a major shiftin interpretation. The third chapter examines the broader themes of witchcraftin popular culture, & finally chapter four explores the declinein witchcraft beliefs.
Sharpe also provides a sample of documentary extracts which support his interpretations. There are 27 documents, ranging from the 1563 witchcraft statute, to a selection of comments on witchcraft from 18th century writers. There are several interesting exerts from court cases & personal diaries, which give the reader a useful insight into how witchcraft was written about, spoken about & perceived at the time. Throughout the main body of the text, Sharpe makes clear references to these primary sources, to enable the reader to see how historians have deconstructed the range of evidence. These sources provide an opportunity, 'to enter the mental world of people for whom witchcraft was a reality, or at least a live issue.' (Pg.13).
In conclusion, Witchcraftin Early Modern England provides the reader with a stimulating & concise introduction to this area & reflects the changesin perceptions & ideas that have swept the field over the past centuries. Sharpe's work enters the debatein order to assess the contribution of past historians, to introduce the reader to the current state of thinkingin 2001 & to discuss areas needing more research. Sharpe reviews the historiography & expands on the major theories; he discusses future directions for investigation, but gives no final answers. Sharpe states that he hopes to demonstrate that witchcraft is a, 'complex, demanding & serious historical phenomenon.' (Pg.13) To this end he is extremely successful & manages to produce a book that both informs & fascinates, leaving the reader equipped with a basic understanding of the main issues & a desire to continue the quest & discover more.
