A review by oeufmily
In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 by Mary Beth Norton

3.0

as a narrative, this kind of flops. but as a history book, it’s some of the best history i’ve ever read. meticulous work. attention to detail. it’s not as exciting as the crucible, but it does give you a nuanced look at a community on the brink in seventeenth-century new england. i wish the francophobia/antipopery angle was fleshed out more, but that would have made this book even LONGER, so i’ll give MBN a pass on that one. i can’t believe i read books like this every week in grad school. i guess that’s what i get for not skimming this!!