5 comments about Witchcraft at Salem.

1. Chadwick Hansen's "Witchcraft at Salem" gives an interesting if controversial account of the infamous Salem Witch Trials that took place in Salem. Massachusetts in 1692. Hansen essentially claims that at least some of the accused persons who were tried and eventually hanged for witchcraft were, in fact, practicing witches.

   Using contemporary accounts and the trial documents, Hansen relates the usual details of the rise and fall of the terrible dealings that took place that year in Salem Village. It chronicles how early in the year two young girls, the daughter and niece of Samuel Parris, the local minister, inexplicably fell ill and began experiencing terrible "fits" and suffering visions of nocurnal visitations by what the girls claimed were local witches. The girls had reportedly been experimenting with simple egg yolk divination, under the guide of the Parris' slave Tituba, a mixed-blood Arawak Indian from Barbados (not a full blooded African as has often been reported) to tell the identity of their future husbands. After being being accused of being a witch by the girls and beaten by Reverand Parris, Tituba confessed to not only being a witch, but having made a pact with the Devil himself. Tituba then went on to implicate two other women, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne. From there, the trials would sprial out of control into a bloodbath as neighbor accused neighbor and old jealousies lead to vengence. In all 19 people would be executed and at least 4 others would die as a result of the trials.

   There has been much written on this popular subject, much of it contrary to each other in their theories of the origins and causes of the witchcraze. Theories have ranged from hysteria, food poisoning, to outright lies and falsehood. Hensen takes the view that several of the accused, notably Tituba, Bridget Bishop, and the Rev. George Burroghs (and perhaps others) were in fact practicing some form of witchcraft. He claims that while there is no direct evidence of Diabolic witchcraft or pacts with the Devil, several of these individuals could have been practicing forms of folk magic that would have opened them up to accusations. Tituba may have helped the girls perform a harmless form of divination by floating egg yolks in a glass of water to tell the girls romantic futures, though this type of thing was probably not uncommon in 17th century New England. Bridget Bishop was said to have had "poppets" hidden in her house, which could have been used as a form of image magic, and George Burroughs, a former minister in Salem, was rumored to have studied the occult, perhaps a bit too eagerly for his fellow townsfolk. Hensen's arguements are interesting but open to debate. Most other scholars who have written on this subject tend to dispute these theories citing lack of credible evidence to sustain the belief that any such witchery truly was taking place. While some of these individuals may have had some shady dealings or secretly practiced folk magic, one thing is certain, they were not witches. Despite this, Hensen does leave the door slightly cracked to the possibility of something more sinister going on in Salem then is generally admitted, which does make for some interesting reading.




2. Professor Hansen has greatly added to scholarly debate with this work. His thesis on the cause of the hysteria in Salem in 1692 is adequately summed up by the author as follows:

   "The direct cause of these fits, in the courtroom or out of it was, of course, not witchcraft itself, but the afflicted person's fear of witchcraft."

   This thesis is bolstered by Hansen's use of evidence demonstrating that withcraft was indeed practiced in New England at the time and was actually practiced by two or three of those condemned as witches. The hysteria is a product of the belief common in the culture that witchcraft could indeed harm and kill.

   Despite the Puritan culture in which the trials arose, it appeared not uncommon for those in the Salem area to practice some "white" magic involving charms. While such evidence does not make one a witch, but only a product of a supersticious society, evidence of the use of such magics was used by the tribunals in support of their prosecutions of malefic witchraft in Salem. It was malefic witchcraft (that magic intended to harm the person or property of another) which was of concern to the tribunals in Salem.

   What particularly struck me was Hansen's defense of Cotton Mather. Mather has been pilloried by most historians as a major pivotal cause in stirring up what quickly became a witch hunt. Hansen argues, and provides significant support, that Mather consistently urged caution regarding the use of "spectral" evidence. Once he became aware that the tribunals were relying heavily on spectral evidence, he urged that a member of the clergy be placed on the tribunals so that this evidence could be properly weighed. The author contends that Mather's only real fault is that he trusted the judgment of the tribunal because he respected each member as friend and as competent to judge such cases. Nonetheless, the tribunals acted more as prosecutor than an independent trier of fact.

   In sum, the author's approach is unique and refreshing. This book is a worthy work of scholarship and is an easy read. I highly recommend it.




3. The Salem witch trials seem to have posed a problem for Mr. Hansen. He seems to wonder how a dedicated Christian community could turn on itself, resulting in 20 deaths? He apparently assumes that they could not have been motivated by bloodlust, panic or greed (this was, after all, a Christian community), so there must be a "real" reason. This assumption forms the cornerstone for his book. However, the logic he applies is so simplistic, a child could refute it. Here are some examples.
   
   Hansen's agenda is made clear in the introduction. He points out that opposition to witchcraft was not the result of priestly denouncement, but rather the result of "...prevailing attitudes of the time." Thus, the Puritans were no more rabid nor paranoid about witchcraft than anyone else at the time. So, where did these 'prevailing attitudes' come from, if not the clergy? If the Puritans were not paranoid about having their insular subculture infected by foreign ideas and practicies, why did they leave Europe and found a private colony? The usually verbose Hansen is strangely silent on these points.
   
   Hansen asserts that many people throughout Europe and the European colonies practiced various forms of superstitious "folk magic" descended from ancient Pagan practices. His implication is that the victims of Salem were doing this, and thus deserved to be labeled "witches" because the practice was condemened by greater society. Of course, Hansen fails to adequately explain why the community suddenly decided it violently objected to these practices that were so widespread and had continued for generations. It's like lynch mobs spontaneously forming today and targetting litterbugs.
   
   Hansen goes on to describe some of the fits displayed by allegedly bewitched community members. These were not faked, Hansen assures us, but rather were psychosomatic seizures brought on by the belief that they were bewitched. Of course, there is no way now of testing to see if this is true or not. Perhaps Hansen was counting on this, daring his colleagues to prove him wrong. Even a qualified psychologist cannot effectively diagnose people who have been dead for 300 years, but Hansen seems to feel he is perfectly entitled to do so. I suppose it is possible that a group of people woke up one morning, decided that they were bewitched, and began displaying hysterical symptomas. Occham's Razor, however, tends to favor the popular hypothesis; the seizures were faked by disempowered individuals in order to obtain attention and power.
   
   Other reviewers have noted the wealth of information Hansen gathered for his book. While it is true that Hansen clearly did a lot of research, it doesn't seem to have made much impact on his pre-determined thesis. It's a bit like an engineer gathering the best materials money can buy to build a ladder to the moon; a tragic waste of resources that ignores the obvious.
   
   Like all revisionist history, Hansen's book is dangerous. His thesis, that the God-fearing Puritans were too "good" to be malicious is painfully short-sighted. Since he cannot downplay the damage caused by the trials, he blames the vicitms and tries to set up a context to rationalize, or even vindicate the Puritans' behavior. And as with most revisionist history, some people will probably prefer to believe him, thus setting the scene for the next "witch hunt."



4. The Salem witch incident, along with other witchcraft events in early New England, have long been a special interest of mine. Having read widely on the subject, I know better than to expect a single author to have THE answer to how and why these appalling persecutions happened. Hansen is the latest author I've looked into, and because his book was published in the 1960's, I was pretty surprised to find that he provides another slant on things. What if some of the accused actually were practicing "witchcraft", at least the "white" variety? He then discusses evidence that strongly suggests that some of them were. Hansen also puts belief in witches in its proper historical context. Sort of like voodoo today, if you believed in witchcraft, it worked. Hansen's interpretation of what happened to John Hale, one of the judges, is also intriguing, as is his use of psychosomatic psychology.
   Glad I read this.



5. Hansen makes a rather odd argument: there really were witches at Salem and their witchcraft worked. Hansen is correct in asserting that magic and the supernatural were everyday parts of life in the early modern world. People practiced and believed in these things. However, Hansen believes that the power of witchcraft came from the power of belief and the problem of hysteria.
   
   Hansen argues that the afflicted and many of those who confessed were hysterics. He uses cases studies of hysteria to back up his claims. There are some major problems with his argument. First, hysteria is no longer a recognized psychological condition, so the book (published in 1969) in incredibly dated. Second, Hansen works fiercely to make the facts of Salem fit his theory. By his reckoning, at least half of Massachusetts must have been suffering from hysteria! Moreover, he provides almost no context. Now, some of the afflicted may have suffered from various kinds of psychological or medical problems. One should also not discount the power of belief. But, Hansen's attempt to boil everything down to one explanation--to hysteria--just does not work.
   
   This book is then very dated and contains a questionable argument, but it is still valuable. It is a major part of the historiography on Salem, and it was one of the first books to take these people's beliefs seriously. Moreover, Hansen provides many valuable insights on the trials and witch hunts in general that can be divorced from his flawed and outdated hysteria arguments.
   
   Overall, this is not a book I would recommend to someone who is looking for their first book on Salem or to the general reader. This is a book that should be read by those studying the historiography of Salem or for those who know enough of the basics to be able to glean what useful information they can without accepting everything Hansen says as gospel. Hansen made a major contribution to the study of Salem, but the field has moved far beyond his explanation in the almost 40 years since this books publication.

5 comments about The Sound of Our Town: A History of Boston Rock and Roll.

1. I had high hopes for this book, but ultimately it fell a little flat. To be fair to Milano, the task - covering 40+ years of rock evolution in Boston - is a big undertaking. But by the time I was 1/3 of the way through the book, I was pretty much just scanning it to pick out names and/or stories about bands I liked. That seemed to be the way it was written, almost a scientific survey.
   
   Also, it is clear that the book has a BU orientation. Milano repeatedly treats the Rat as the center of the universe... I went to Tufts and had a very different (Somerville, Cambridge) view of the scene.
   
   Anyone need a cheap used copy??



2. I grew up in Cambridge in the 70's & 80's. These were the prime years of life- teens and twentys. Reading this book brought back so many memories...the clubs, the bands, the restaurants, the people. A fun book for anyone in the area during that time period. Granted alot of bands aren't listed (maybe in a sequel book?), but you can't fit every band into one book. A few of my favorite clubs aren't listed either (remember Jonathan Swifts in Harvard Square?). But it does cover the really influential groups and places of the time. If you want to re- live the sights, sounds, smells of your youth, enjoy this book!



3. I found this book in a book store and found it a pretty fascinating and perusal... however I didn't buy it solely because the author omitted one of the best Boston bands of the late 80's / early 90's: Tribe. Did I miss something? Tribe may have been eclipsed by the Pixies and Throwing Muses in popularity (I don't know if Tribe ever got national airplay) but their Boston fanbase was large and rabid. If you can find their Gil Norton-produced album "Abort"... buy it.



4. Boston's had many big bands evolve from the rock scene and all are covered here - but what makes THE SOUND OF OUR TOWN: A HISTORY OF BOSTON ROCK AND ROLL special is not just an accounting of the many major bands which have evolved from the city, but a survey of the legendary places which fostered music. The author has frequented all these key places since arriving in the city as a music-crazy student: chapters are packed with Boston history and culture as well as music history, making this a top pick for any Boston native or music fan.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



5. I finally got around to reading this book on a recent flight to Vegas and back. I had seen Brett at more than a few shows over the years, but I think I finally got introduced to him last summer at a Steely Dan show by a mutual friend. He'd never remember meeting me, but I started noticing how he was at nearly every show I was at around 1988 or so. Anyway, this book is pretty cool. It's nearly impossible to mention every band and what became of them, but if you were in your 20's and 30's during the eighties and nineties as I was, this book rocks. I loved reading the details about what caused relatively unknown, but big local bands like O Positive, 'Til Tuesday, Dumptruck and tons of other bands to break up. I was very interested in bad record deals and the cross pollination of different musicians in different bands. If I had a complaint it would be that bands like Private Lightning, The Rings, New England, Tom Dickie & The Desires, The New Models, and The Sex Execs barely got name checked (if at all) while some bands I hadn't even heard of got a lot of ink. I worked as an unpaid intern/producer on the Mark Parenteau show for years at WBCN so I had a feel for most every band Brett mentioned. The difference between me and Brett (aside from maybe a couple of years) is that I didn't live at The Rat even though I lived right behind it for years. I wasn't too enamored of slam dancing and he's right about the bouncers. I doubt I had the look (besides being male) they were looking for so I didn't spend a lot of time there knowing I wasn't wanted. It might have been different if I was a musician, but I'm just a collector. I also agree with the reviewer below who said that Jonathan Swift's drew very little mention. Also Pooh's Pub (RIP)!! Having moved to Boston just in time for the Bucky Dent game I lived through most all of what Brett writes about. Hey Brett...how about a quick mention of Little Joe Cook and The Thrillers bud? The Blues not good enough for ya ;-)? The Cantab in Cambridge should have gotten a mention. I would have liked more singles mentioned as well. You can't just mention Human Sexual Response and not mention Jackie Onassis or What Does Sex Mean To Me? That said, I could not have written this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it so hat's off to you Brett. Great job. Now I have to read the other one I bought years ago about collecting that you wrote. Keep writing because I'll keep reading.

No comments about Latina Politics Pb.

5 comments about The Italian American Experience in New Haven: Images And Oral Histories (Suny Series in Italian/American Studies).

1. The Italian American Experience In New Haven: Images And Oral Histories by Anthony Riccio (Stacks Manager at the Sterling Memorial Library at Yale University) draws upon personal interviews as well as family and archival photographs to present a richly complex and fully realized history of the life and experiences of Italian immigrants who settled in New Haven, Connecticut in the 19th and 20th centuries. Not only is the daily pulse of life in the Italian-American community revealed in the life stories of ordinary men and women, the reader will discover how this immigrant community was affected by such landmark events as the Spanish Flu pandemic, the Great Depression, and World War II. Also revealed are the hardships of Italian immigrant women who labored under terrible (and often hazardous) conditions in New Haven's shirt factories. The integrations of historic photographs with the reported interviews transform The Italian American Experience In New Haven from just another ethnic American history into a compelling social history showcasing a vibrant, vigorous, colorful community. The result is a brilliantly written and highly recommended work that is as entertaining as it is informative.



2. Anthony Riccio captures the love , the sorrows, the hardships and the industrial and political life of New Haven in a way that no one before him has. How and why the Italians left the old world of a cruel Italy , an Italy only for the wealthy, is made patently clear in this book. The advantages and opportunities offered by a New America were varied and plentiful. Fortunately the Italian immigrant came here with an important work ethic and a desire for a family life which was rich in expectations and ambitions. Life was not easy for the first generation, but they 'made it' as we say in America. Their children achieved in the 1st 100 years in America what others took generations to do. Anthony allows the storytellers to say things in their own words so that the full flavor of their New Haven experience would be felt and understood by the readers. Anthony Riccio adds his own scholarly touch to the preface and to the beginnings of each and every chapter. The book is both a scholarly and authentic documentary of the Italian people who made a significant contribution to the growth and development of New Haven. They are an inspiration to all of what it takes to be successful . Read the book. If you read nothing else all year, this is the book to read.



3. Unique format and of personal interest since my family is of Italian descent and we lived in New Haven. The author's interviews bring back many memories of growing up Italian.



4. This book is definately the best to come out in a very long time detailing New Haven's past. The pictures are incredible as well.
   
   A classic to be for sure.



5. I bought the book Italian American Experience in New Haven for my cousin who was born and raised there and is now elderly. As a child I spent many happy days at my Aunt and Uncles home, with my cousin.When the book arrived I flipped through it and found myself enjoying immensely the stories of people I didn't even know, but also finding it brought back many long forgotten memories of my own. I gave it to my cousin and he was so happy to read of and see photos of places that were from his own youth.
   My only wish is that more families could have been included----my family lived on 29 Chapel street and I remember the pushcart man with the clams on the half shell and the little bakery at the corner. I would love another book that covers that end of town and includes more stories---maybe a contributory book where all the older Italians could send in their stories and photos to be made into another book.
   The book is an escape to a happy, warm, loving, safe time of life. Pure pleasure for any Italian to read because it is like sitting at the kitchen table talking over a cup of coffee.
   I highly recommend the book.

1 comments about Baseball in New Haven (CT) (Images of Baseball).

1. This book might only be interesting to the folks of my hometown, New Haven. For my part, I loved it. I remember so much of it and the rest I heard from my father. It was lots of fun.

2 comments about Good Newes from New England.

1. I have read William Bradford's book about Plymouth a few times, but I only recently became aware of this work. One in Six Americans can (could) trace their roots back to the Mayflower and the Pilgrims at Plymouth. This books provides another primary source for understanding the life and times of the Pilgrims.



2. A very nice little book about advertising people to come to the New World from a person who lived at Plimoth Colony - Edward Winslow. The book was actually written by several people.

5 comments about Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.

1. It was well worth the wait; my father called me "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" when I was a small girl. It is a warm and endearing story. I may have to get some more of the books in the series!



2. As I started to read this book I got a sense that it was not going to be the thrilling adventure that I usually look for in a book. This was okay because sometimes you need a book that can slow it down and you can relax with. I am sorry to report that this book was so slow it almost came to a stop. Although it is a story of a girl who moves from her farm home to a small town to live with her aunts nothing more exciting than Rebecca selling enough soap to get a lamp for some friends that aren't very well off happens. While it is a great thing to see family helping family to get an education, something more adventurous like a love interest, or a friend saving her best and most loved toy from the clutches of a wicked aunt could spice up a story. Maybe I am a reader who is not excited by someone learning to sew and this kind of book is your cup of tea but it is not mine. In my opinion the lack of substanance is almost suffocating and I will not be drowned by another reading of this book.



3. Rebecca has been my friend since I read her story in a cheap Whitman hardback when I was a little girl. A lively and creative 10-year-old girl is sent to her maiden aunts to receive a good education, but chafes under the restrictive yoke of her elder aunt. As Rebecca learns to channel her energies into positive action, she remains unquenched by her dour aunt and lends joy to both the younger aunt, but also the elderly Cobbs and her best friend, Emma Jane Perkins. The vocabulary in the story may be a bit high for younger readers as REBECCA was not actually written as a children's story; it was the best seller of the year 1904. There is a sequel, NEW CHRONICLES OF REBECCA, that is worth finding, with more adventures of Rebecca, the Simpson children, and even Emma Jane.



4. This book is okay. I wouldn't read it more than twice. It was really boring till the end. Then it got good. I would recomend this book to kids from ages 9 - teens. Rebecca has a life that i would never want. She is so happy and bouncy. I don't like that. In my opinion, this is book is not very exciting. I was so glad when I finished it. Because then I could read a better book. It was kind of hard to follow, cause a lot of things were going on at once. I really think younger kids should read it. I don't think it deserves a classic. But that is just in my opinon. Read it if you would like. I just didn't like it. It was okay though. So good luck!



5. One of my three favorite books from my childhood. I have read reviews of how difficult this book is to understand or read by small children. Nonsense! I first read this book when I was 6 years old, one year after learning English and had no problem with it. I read it many times until my mother threw it away. I looked for it for a long time and finally found it 54 years after first reading it. I still love it.

1 comments about Lake Compounce (Images of America: Connecticut).

1. How much more can I say but "WELL DONE !" This is a must read for anyone who has ever gone to "the lake".

2 comments about Paddling Cape Cod: A Coastal Explorer's Guide.

1. We are new kayakers, in our fifties, and have our own kayaks. We read this book cover to cover before setting out on our first expedition. The book not only details each trip with clear maps, but also tells you when to launch according to the tides, what to look for in weather reports, parking and prices, and clear maps. Since we are new, this information made us feel prepared and safe. The authors' natural history and beautifully illustrated birds and marine life helped us identify what we were seeing. Our first trip to Barnstable Harbor was a delight! We knew when and where to put in and how long a trip it would be. We tasted Sea Pickle, walked on the dunes and were prepared to watch out for motor boats. We identified egrets and saw a great blue heron. This is a great guide, not only for paddling, but as a nature guide as well. We keep it in our waterproof bag with the binoculars they recommend having on board. It also has a wonderful resource appendix for shopping or getting more information. This book is worth the low cost investment.



2. We bought this book for our first outing with Kayaks on Cape Cod. It is well written and has enough information, maps and descriptions to prepare each tour. It provides some background information for the area, and also covers the basics for safety, gear and other useful tips to ensure an enjoyable time on the streams, ponds and bays of Cape Cod.

1 comments about Autumnal Tints.

1. Published in _Atlantic Monthly_ five months after his death, this essay describes the colors of the New England landscape as Henry David Thoreau saw them in the mid-1800s. His motivation for writing such words seems to have been his neighbors' apathy and indifference toward the natural world, for "A man sees only what concerns him." And so Thoreau speaks of the beauty of purple grasses and of maples, elms, and oaks. He doesn't mind the fallen willow leaves that land in his boat and doesn't clean them out -- he accepts them as extra cushioning for his seat. One wonders what Henry would think now, when tourists are apt to drive to New England on fall weekends, just to see the leaves. There's no earth-shattering revelations in this booklet. It's just an easy read for a crisp and bright October day.