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A review by cgcpoems
In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 by Mary Beth Norton
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.5
This was a very informative read about the Salem witch trials, & how the fears of the townspeople directly correlated with their anxieties surrounding the First and Second Indian Wars.
Around 100 pages in, the book got to be a bit dense—I found myself skimming over the repetitive accusations and actions of the witchcraft accusers. I wish more had been said about what caused the accusers to act in this way, but respect the author’s decision not to discuss this which she explains at the end of the book.
Overall, this is a great book if you’re looking to do a deep dive into the Salem witch trials and particularly if you’re interested in Indigenous studies/history. For the casual reader, though, I think this may be a little too much to swallow.
Around 100 pages in, the book got to be a bit dense—I found myself skimming over the repetitive accusations and actions of the witchcraft accusers. I wish more had been said about what caused the accusers to act in this way, but respect the author’s decision not to discuss this which she explains at the end of the book.
Overall, this is a great book if you’re looking to do a deep dive into the Salem witch trials and particularly if you’re interested in Indigenous studies/history. For the casual reader, though, I think this may be a little too much to swallow.