Norton thinks that too much attention has been paid over the years to debating the accusers in the trial (why did they do it, were they just purely faking it all, etc. The author's a good historian but a mediocre storyteller; Norton never manages to tap into the human drama of the story and thus creates more of a dry catalogue of events than an actual narrative. I've really liked Charlie as a main character, but it was really nice getting to see a little more of the story from the point of view of her cousins and Jason. Become a member to get exclusive early access to our latest reviews too! Reviews. Misspellings and bad grammar and all! Good idea, very poor execution. It is also where our staff first look for news and features for the site. Norton doesn't bring in actual theories of trauma or PTSD, and the evidence doesn't absolutely allow her to prove her assertion that the authorities on some level used the witch trials to distract from their own incompetence. In 1692 the people of Massachusetts were living in fear, and not solely of satanic afflictions. Readers of In the Devil’s Snare who are familiar with the traditional story of Salem witchcraft will have recognized that something has been missing from my narrative: an account of the afflicted girls fortune-telling circle in the winter of 1691–1692. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Norton contends that this situation was different because the French and Indians were clearly winning the fight, burning villages and taking captives. If you would like to contribute an article for the magazine and/or site, please contact us. Its likely origin was in Central America, and it has been introduced in many world regions. An interesting approach to a meticulously researched historical account. Norton does posit that the hostile climate created by the tension between "heathen" and Puritan is more of a catalyst in this part of American history than most people realize. New York: Vintage Books, 2003. Welcome back. What can I say? The Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 By Mary Beth Norton In the Devil’s Snare is a book about the Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 in which the towns people accused women and men of using witchcraft to cause unexplained happenings throughout the town. Be the first to ask a question about In the Devil's Snare. I REALLY enjoyed this book but oh my goodness it was so friggen dense. It was a slow burn romance, not OTT and not that dark either. Did not capture my interest to want to read more though. The bulk of her work is dedicated to tracing and teasing out these connections, and especially those like Abigail Hubbard who were linked to the Maine frontier where the worst of the violence occurred. As an avid reader of all things Salem (1692) I felt it was time to pick up a non-fiction text that has been referenced a great deal in the fiction that is out there. In The Devils Snare The Salem Witchcraft by Mary Beth Norton available in Hardcover on Powells.com, also read synopsis and reviews. This is a comprehensive look at the Salem Witch trials of 1692 that has been meticulously researched and footnoted by an historian who specializes in colonial America. An interesting subject, but after a while reading this book felt more like a chore than a pleasure. amazing. I only have read the free chapters... plan to buy this book! Norton's premise is that the witchcraft panic was actually about fear of Indian attacks, and that the Salem authorities were willing to entertain absurd accusations because, if the devil was at work locally, then it wasn't the authorities' fault that Indians were attacking. by Vintage, In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692. I also like what "funeral director" Tom has … They saw a chance to redeem some inner vengeance and took advantage of it. 2.5 stars, Morgan Jerkins Journeys Across the USA to Retrace Black History. In this work, Norton looks at a well trudged and puzzled over moment in early American History, the Salem Witch Trials, and approaches it anew. The beginning has a lot of quotes! Fiction. Review of the book, In The Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1962 by Mary Beth Norton. 2:26) and to become more keenly aware of our enemy’s deceitful scheme—to destroy our Lord’s church. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Our online member directory allows visitors to view members’ profiles, their latest website/blog posts and links to their Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads accounts. —Read 2 Timothy 2:24-26. In this book, Mary Beth Norton examines the Salem witchcraft crisis (or, in her estimation, the “Essex County witchcraft crisis”) in new ways. Meh The story was mostly dialogue between the devil and Archangel Gabriel, setup for the rest of the story in the next book I presume. One of the most detailed accounts of the Salem Witch Trials I have ever read. In the Devil's Snare is a scholarly work concerning the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, held in Salem, Massachusetts. Norton thinks that too much attention has been paid over the years to debating the accusers in the trial (why did they do it, were they just purely faking it all, etc. So it was no surprise to discover that the devil was not only attacking them in the form of French and Indians, but also attacking them through witches in their midst. So many different names that's it's hard to remember who is who. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published I'm a history nerd, love colonial history, and a total dork about community-wide paranoia and I still couldn't get past how dry this book got at times. The afflictions that beset Deliverance Hobbs and other accusers also suggest a tie to Native American warfare: in their testimony the afflicted claimed to have seen devilish and “tawny” apparitions serving or acting as the Devil, and to have suffered wracking physical pains similar to those imposed on torture victims by Indian captors (a symptom that had not appeared at earlier New England witch trials). Snare examines the York Deeds and similar sources, making possible detailed reconstruction of Indian attacks on Maine coastal settlements, and subsequent displacement of survivors to households in Essex County, Massachusetts. The graphics were pretty good too, not used to seeing so many visual representations in books of this type, but I think they were very useful. And there is a lot of names. I did. I chose to read In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 for my book review. Person of Interest: "The Devil's Share" Review. I'm a history nerd, love colonial history, and a total dork about community-wide paranoia and I still couldn't get past how dry this book got at times. The troops, however, proved a mixed blessing to local residents and stimulated great controversy, especially in Black Point. It tells a fascinating story, however. c) also his most commonly used trick as well This is a major turn in the Salem historiography, and certainly seems to be a plausible explanation. However, I found little to connect the events throughout the narrative other than an occasional alluding to the parallels drawn between the descriptions given of the "devil" and their resemblance to the Indians that were so present on the northeastern frontier and the sporadic mention of certain accuse. This is a comprehensive look at the Salem Witch trials of 1692 that has been meticulously researched and footnoted by an historian who specializes in colonial America. Her narrative just wasn't as easy to follow as it could have been. This book presented a fresh viewpoint on the Salem Witch Trials that I'd never seen put forth as possible cruxes to the extreme volitility of the accusations put forth during this infamous period. In this scholarly work, the author looks at the accusers and the accused beyond the narrow confines of Salem Village. I personally believe the trials were a farce. In the Devil’s Snare (Mary Beth Norton) is a path-breaking re-examination of the 1692 Salem witch trials. EDITOR'S CHOICE. In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 by Mary Beth Norton My rating: 3 of 5 stars Well this was a fun, albeit tedious, one to read. Almost ashamed that I ca n't the Devil 's Snare: the Salem witch trials and the `` ''. Is curious about the Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 for my book review is curious the... Goal is to help Christians “ escape the Snare of the Crisis, there are so. 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