Cassell's dictionary of witchcraft cover

Cassell's dictionary of witchcraft

by Pickering, David

Separating truth from myth, an expert offers an A-to-Z guide to one of the most intriguing aspects of the supernatural. Hundreds of carefully researched articles provide explanations of the key terms and concepts of witchcraft, including demons, exorcisms, familiars, the Inquisition, sabbats, shape-shifting, and spells. Fascinating biographies of key figures range from witches mentioned in the Bible and other ancient literature to the 17th-century "Witch-Finder General" Matthew Hopkins, and the modern "Great Beast," Aleister Crowley. Articles on witch trials through the centuries draw on eyewitness testimony and contemporary records of torture, confessions, and recantations. Opinions about witchcraft include legal experts, theologians, and psychologists. For example, Jean Bodin, a French philosopher, opposed the burning of witches since they usually died quickly.

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?