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Matthew Hopkins, 'Witchfinder General', and his accomplice John Stearne, in just two years during the English civil war, sent over two hundred supposed witches to the gallows. They took their witch-hunt all over East Anglia, and it was by far the largest of its kind in English history. The witchfinders have been condemned by history, but they were criticised even in their own time, and each defended the convictions and the methods used to obtain them in print. Hopkins published his Discovery of Witches in 1647, just before his death, and Stearne his Confirmation and Discovery of Witchcraft in 1648. Both offer fascinating and unparalleled insights into the minds of the witchfinders, the workings of their interrogations, and the confessions they obtained from their victims. Here, the for the first time, the two texts are presented side by side, fully annotated, in a comprehensive modern edition, which includes an extended introduction, bibliographical details of both texts, appendices, a full bibliography, and an index.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a great, well-priced edition of these two texts - Matthew Hopkins' Discovery of Witches, which has been printed several times before but never in a properly edited version; and John Stearne's Confirmation and Discovery of Witchcraft, whic has only ever been published before in a hard-to-find facsimile edition, with no notes or apparatus. Although Hopkins' text is the more well-known, and more often read (not only because he's more famous, but probably because it's very short too), but really the two texts are essential companion pieces, and throw interesting light on each other. Stearne's text can be difficult in places, but it's worth persevering for the fascinating accounts of the witches' confessions. Fascinating, bizarre, often harrowing and occasionally humorous (though never intentionally).
This edition presents both texts together, with a useful introduction and lots of excellent notes. Particularly useful is the index, which allows you to look up particular witches or places, or whatever, without having to look through the whole text. This is a very useful addition for students, and should be included in more critical editions!
The edition looks nice, and altogether is good value for money. If you're a student of witchcraft or of the seventeenth century, or just a casual reader interested in Hopkins, you're sure to find this book of interest.
This edition presents both texts together, with a useful introduction and lots of excellent notes. Particularly useful is the index, which allows you to look up particular witches or places, or whatever, without having to look through the whole text. This is a very useful addition for students, and should be included in more critical editions!
The edition looks nice, and altogether is good value for money. If you're a student of witchcraft or of the seventeenth century, or just a casual reader interested in Hopkins, you're sure to find this book of interest.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An excellent book. I had been concerned that I would have to travel to the British Library to find a copy of Stearne's book and a shorter distance for Hopkins'. To find both carefully transcribed in one reasonably priced volume was a great time and effort saver. The introduction and notes are concise but detailed and very useful. The only (very minor) criticism that I could make concerns an ambiguous footnote regarding the status of John Davenport (author of The Huntingdon Witches published 1646). Having been very pleased to come across this very useful book I caught myself wishing Davies had trnscribed John Gaule's book as well, but realise this was quite unrealistic of me.
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