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cardigoth's review against another edition
2.0
The text is as dry as the subject is interesting: incredibly. If you don't mind everything reading like a historic legal document, the book is quite interesting. However, I felt as though I were trying to force the information through my brain to no avail. Would recommend something more narrative.
mellusions's review against another edition
4.0
Possibly a weeeeee bit too thorough because it was very repetitive towards the end there. (I am, of course, a terrible human being for finding the loss of life repetitive. Acknowledged.) It is brilliant though for really getting to the heart of how and why this crisis was so particular to *these* people at *this* time and how closely it was linked to the ongoing aggressions with the local Indians.
peter_finch's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating.
I have always been intrigued by the Salem witch trials (partly, I'm sure, due in fact to my own ancestral connection to one of the hanged), though my exposure to information regarding this crisis has only ever been through pop culture references (e.g., "The Crucible," American history courses, etc.). So it was with a breath of fresh air that I devoured Norton's tome regarding the 1692 situation.
Mary Beth remains impeccably objective as she chronicles the events leading up to, taking place during, and following the Salem witchcraft crisis of 1692. The only assumptions she makes come from her deductive reasoning regarding facts (e.g., who someone was, whether someone lived in Maine, etc.); she leaves assumptions regarding the more "conspiratorial" aspects of the crisis (e.g., whether the afflicted girls were acting maliciously) to other Salem authors. Her research is detailed (the entire book is written in a font size you'd see used for footnotes in other writings) and she is able to write her findings in a narrative that flows.
What fascinates me most about Norton's work is the envelope of history in which she folds the crisis. The attacks by the Wabanakis on New England's frontier, the failed defense system of the Puritan militia, and the hype of pre- and co-occurring witchcraft crises all paint a canvas for how the Salem situation exploded and prolonged the way that it did. Her commentary on the feministic point of view of this situation (which needs to be in there as she is well known for writing on roles of females during colonial America) gives an interesting spin to the story, and one which I don't recall being brought up in any history class I took (apologies Mrs. Smith if you did, in fact, cover this).
This book is fascinating for more than one reason and I believe more people would delve further into history if there were more texts written in this style.
I have always been intrigued by the Salem witch trials (partly, I'm sure, due in fact to my own ancestral connection to one of the hanged), though my exposure to information regarding this crisis has only ever been through pop culture references (e.g., "The Crucible," American history courses, etc.). So it was with a breath of fresh air that I devoured Norton's tome regarding the 1692 situation.
Mary Beth remains impeccably objective as she chronicles the events leading up to, taking place during, and following the Salem witchcraft crisis of 1692. The only assumptions she makes come from her deductive reasoning regarding facts (e.g., who someone was, whether someone lived in Maine, etc.); she leaves assumptions regarding the more "conspiratorial" aspects of the crisis (e.g., whether the afflicted girls were acting maliciously) to other Salem authors. Her research is detailed (the entire book is written in a font size you'd see used for footnotes in other writings) and she is able to write her findings in a narrative that flows.
What fascinates me most about Norton's work is the envelope of history in which she folds the crisis. The attacks by the Wabanakis on New England's frontier, the failed defense system of the Puritan militia, and the hype of pre- and co-occurring witchcraft crises all paint a canvas for how the Salem situation exploded and prolonged the way that it did. Her commentary on the feministic point of view of this situation (which needs to be in there as she is well known for writing on roles of females during colonial America) gives an interesting spin to the story, and one which I don't recall being brought up in any history class I took (apologies Mrs. Smith if you did, in fact, cover this).
This book is fascinating for more than one reason and I believe more people would delve further into history if there were more texts written in this style.
mariesiduri's review against another edition
3.0
In the Devil’s Snare lays out a case for the cause of the Salem witch trials in the social, religious, and political pressures facing the society of the day. The Massachusetts colonists, writes author Mary Beth Norton, received refugees from Maine (then considered part of Massachusetts) who had just been through two devastating wars with the Wabanaki people. Many of those who played parts in the trials—accuser or accused—had ties to Maine.
The book is detailed and dry. It does not dwell on the sensational. When a person is convicted and hanged, the book merely notes this. The author also keeps the original spelling and syntax when quoting a document. Seventeenth-century spelling varied and relied on the writer’s degree of education. The twenty-first-century reader might have to pause a bit to get the sense of what’s being said.
At the same time, the reader meets colorful characters. For example, Captain John Alden, who, it was said, was an “Old Indian trader.” “The Indians have a saying that Mr Alden is a good Man, & loves Indian very well for Beavers,” one man said.
When he brought the Wabanaki and French goods to trade, he found a fellow Englishman held prisoner. The prisoner asked Alden to ransom him. The prison later related Alden said, “he came to Trade & not to redeem Captives.”
Pretty cold. The good people of Salem (not the ex-prisoner) accused him of being a witch.
The book is detailed and dry. It does not dwell on the sensational. When a person is convicted and hanged, the book merely notes this. The author also keeps the original spelling and syntax when quoting a document. Seventeenth-century spelling varied and relied on the writer’s degree of education. The twenty-first-century reader might have to pause a bit to get the sense of what’s being said.
At the same time, the reader meets colorful characters. For example, Captain John Alden, who, it was said, was an “Old Indian trader.” “The Indians have a saying that Mr Alden is a good Man, & loves Indian very well for Beavers,” one man said.
When he brought the Wabanaki and French goods to trade, he found a fellow Englishman held prisoner. The prisoner asked Alden to ransom him. The prison later related Alden said, “he came to Trade & not to redeem Captives.”
Pretty cold. The good people of Salem (not the ex-prisoner) accused him of being a witch.
caidyn's review
dark
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Interesting and insightful read on the witchcraft trials, plus the influences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
I have had this book on my physical TBR for years, and I finally made the time to read it.
“In the Devil’s Snare” outlines the timeline for the Salem witch trials. The author is thorough in recounting every instance that someone was accused of being a witch, and the outcome of their subsequent trial. The author also does a great job of citing some historical events that were occurring in Salem during this same time period, and may have contributed to the overwhelming accusations of witchcraft.
I picked this book up when I first visited Salem, Massachusetts years ago. I have always found the history of Salem to be so interesting, and I think it is a great study into human nature and behavior. I think humans are very easily persuaded to believe something, especially once an idea has been planted into their head.
It is easy for us to look back now at these events, and judge them as entirely ludicrous, but situations like this happen all the time, and if we are honest with ourselves, we can see similar behaviors being exhibited, even presently. People tend to be easily persuaded to see what they want to see, and when someone is different from them , it is easier to cast judgment and try to put them into a box. The events of the Salem witch trials may have occurred over 300 years ago, but the lessons we can take away from this event are still very pertinent today.
I really appreciated and enjoyed how thorough the author was in her research. She outlined the entire timeline of the Salem witch trials, and we really got to see as the reader how these events unfolded. The author took care to highlight every name of every citizen that was accused, and tell their story. Some thing that I thought was rather interesting, was how the accusations came about and how people handled the accusations. This entire witchhunt began because there were people experiencing “fits“ and nobody could understand what was happening or why. Human beings crave understanding, and they just want to know what is going on. I think this idea of witches was an easy way for people to explain strange behaviors.
If you have any interest in the Salem witch trials, I think this novel is a great resource that can highlight everything you need to know about the history of Salem in 1692.
“In the Devil’s Snare” outlines the timeline for the Salem witch trials. The author is thorough in recounting every instance that someone was accused of being a witch, and the outcome of their subsequent trial. The author also does a great job of citing some historical events that were occurring in Salem during this same time period, and may have contributed to the overwhelming accusations of witchcraft.
I picked this book up when I first visited Salem, Massachusetts years ago. I have always found the history of Salem to be so interesting, and I think it is a great study into human nature and behavior. I think humans are very easily persuaded to believe something, especially once an idea has been planted into their head.
It is easy for us to look back now at these events, and judge them as entirely ludicrous, but situations like this happen all the time, and if we are honest with ourselves, we can see similar behaviors being exhibited, even presently. People tend to be easily persuaded to see what they want to see, and when someone is different from them , it is easier to cast judgment and try to put them into a box. The events of the Salem witch trials may have occurred over 300 years ago, but the lessons we can take away from this event are still very pertinent today.
I really appreciated and enjoyed how thorough the author was in her research. She outlined the entire timeline of the Salem witch trials, and we really got to see as the reader how these events unfolded. The author took care to highlight every name of every citizen that was accused, and tell their story. Some thing that I thought was rather interesting, was how the accusations came about and how people handled the accusations. This entire witchhunt began because there were people experiencing “fits“ and nobody could understand what was happening or why. Human beings crave understanding, and they just want to know what is going on. I think this idea of witches was an easy way for people to explain strange behaviors.
If you have any interest in the Salem witch trials, I think this novel is a great resource that can highlight everything you need to know about the history of Salem in 1692.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
jraecent's review against another edition
4.0
Very good and should be read by every person with a deep interest for the trials. But not for the faint of heart as it goes into lots of detail
qnawal97's review against another edition
3.0
It was alright but felt unnecessarily detailed about everything surrounding the actual trials itself, I think this cured my hyperfixation on reading about the Salem Witch Trials because towards the end I was just skimming to finish...