Göran Malmstedt

eBook, PDF

Premodern Beliefs and Witch Trials in a Swedish Province, 1669-1672 (eBook, PDF)

Beschreibung

This book examines the worldview and perceptions of reality that formed the setting for the witch trials held in the Swedish province of Bohuslän in 1669-1672. The first part of the book explores the conduct of the trials and provides, among other things, an analysis of the defendants and of the various accusations from neighbours and the court. The following parts analyse the perceptions of reality found in the statements made in court by witnesses and the accused. The topics addressed include the relationship between dreams and reality, belief in shape-shifting, the power of words, emotions, and magically charged matters, as well as perceptions of God and the Devil. The beliefs that surfaced during the trials were part of a general mentality that characterised people's perception of the world, both before and after the trials. As the records from the prolonged cross-examinations of the accused are unusually detailed, the defendant's statements, together with accusations, testimonies,and the courts' questions, provides a unique insight into premodern worldviews.

Technische Details

• Geräte: PC
• ohne Kopierschutz
• Größe: 2.66MB

Barrierefreiheit

• Text-to-Speech

Autor

Göran Malmstedt is Professor of History at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Springer International Publishing
• Originaltitel: En förtrollad värld
• Seitenzahl: 229
• Erscheinungstermin: 15. Juli 2021
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9783030761202
• Artikelnr.: 62258267

Rezensionen

"The book goes on to consider dreams, dreamt-up experiences, and ideas of shapeshifting (in order to sink ships at night) that were presented in the testimonies. Personally, I found this part of the book the most interesting and insightful, as it moved between examples of the porous boundaries and entangled layers of reality ... ." (Raisa Maria Toivo, Renaissance Quarterly, Vol.76 (4), 2023)