Salem Witch Trials

Discusses the historical setting of the witchcraft trials in colonial Salem, Massachusetts, with background information on the Puritans.

Grade 7-10. By covering the social, legal, and political realities surrounding famous trials, these series entries provide contextual overviews of the cases that have delineated concepts of law and justice in Western civilization. Both books benefit from the inclusion of archival drawings and reproductions and sidebar quotations from primary sources. Nardo traces the life and times of the ancient Athenian and shows the lasting influence of his ideas. Drawing on scholarly works such as I. F. Stone's The Trial of Socrates (Doubleday, 1989), this shorter volume introduces the story and legacy of the philosopher in a more accessible format. Although Rice's account of The Salem Witch Trials is accurate, the meaning of these events becomes obscured by the discussion of dozens of individuals and local figures. This examination of detail works better in texts such as Frances Hill's A Delusion of Satan (Doubleday, 1995), whereas clearer explanations of the hysteria for young people can be found in Laurel Van der Linde's The Devil in Salem Village (Millbrook, 1992) or Shirley Jackson's classic The Witchcraft of Salem Village (Random, 1963).?Janet Woodward, Franklin High School, Seattle, WA
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