from JennieSue

Norton examines why a relatively common situation, accusations of witchcraft, spun so far out of control in Salem in 1692. She argues that the tensions caused by the French and Indian Wars led the residents of Salem and the surrounding area to feel they were under attack by the devil both physica...

from DarthDeverell

In In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692, Mary Beth Norton argues, "The witchcraft crisis of 1692 can be comprehended only in the context of nearly two decades of armed conflict between English settlers and the New England Indians in both southern and northern portions of the ...

from PirateJenny

Another book about the Salem witch trials. The author puts forth a theory I hadn't really been familiar with but that I found interesting. That the eastward--the frontier of Maine (which at that time was pretty close to Salem)--provided a lot of the reasons for the trials. The Puritans, after all...

from arelenriel

This book depicts the tale of the Salem Witchcraft Trials as a struggle between the powerful landowners of Eastern Massachusetts. I find this to be a much more plausible theory than ergot poisoning etc. Good for history buffs.

from jemsw

This book works well in bringing history to life, using primary sources to lend immediacy, while broadening the cast of characters beyond those obvious, overdiscussed few. I've recommended this book to students of mine and consider it a good read as well as a good work of history.