Reprint of the original, first published in 1866.

Reproduction of the original: The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination by Cotton Mather, Robert Calef

The Witchcraft Delusion in New England (Vol. 1-3) is a seminal collection that encapsulates the fervor and introspection surrounding the witch trials that marred early American history. This anthology brings together a compendium of narratives, letters, and trial records that vividly depict the hysteria and the contrasting rational responses to the witchcraft accusations in 17th-century New England. The diversity in literary stylesfrom firsthand accounts to reflective essaysprovides a nuanced understanding of the socio-political and religious contexts that fueled the witch trials. Particularly, the collection highlights the tension between Cotton Mathers justifications for the trials and Robert Calefs critique of them, offering readers a comprehensive examination of the eras conflicting ideologies. The contributing authors, Cotton Mather and Robert Calef, represent polarized perspectives on the witch trials, encapsulating the complex interplay of fear, superstition, and rationality characteristic of Puritan New England. Their works align with larger historical and cultural movements, reflecting the perennial human struggle with ambiguity and fear of the unknown. This anthology, by presenting these contrasting views, unearths the multifaceted narratives that have shaped cultural and historical discourses on morality, justice, and religion. The Witchcraft Delusion in New England is an invaluable resource for readers interested in the dynamics of social hysteria, legal history, and cultural conflict. It offers an unparalleled insight into how societies grapple with phenomena that lie beyond the rational understanding of their time. This collection is recommended for scholars, students, and anyone intrigued by the interplay of history, belief, and the human condition, promising a riveting journey through a tumultuous period of American history.

The Witchcraft Delusion in New England in three volumes is a book relating the Salem witch trials of 1692-1693. It presents the compilation of works on the subject by Cotton Mather, a Puritan minister involved in trials and Robert Calef who opposed Mather. After the trials Mather published the book Wonders of the Invisible World which contained a few of Mather's sermons, the conditions of the colony and a description of witch trials in Europe. He argued that since there are witches and devils, there are "immortal souls." He also claimed that witches appear spectrally as themselves. Calef's response was the book More Wonders of the Invisible World in which he denounced Mather's preaches. The Witchcraft Delusion in New England contains both of those works with the analysis and additional materials which provide a detailed look on the subject of witchcraft.

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