The Witch cover art

The Witch

A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present

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The Witch

By: Ronald Hutton
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
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About this listen

Why have societies all across the world feared witchcraft? This book delves deeply into its context, beliefs, and origins in Europe's history.

The witch came to prominence - and often a painful death - in early modern Europe, yet her origins are much more geographically diverse and historically deep. In this landmark book, Ronald Hutton traces witchcraft from the ancient world to the early modern state. This book sets the notorious European witch trials in the widest and deepest possible perspective and traces the major historiographical developments of witchcraft. Hutton, a renowned expert on ancient, medieval, and modern paganism and witchcraft beliefs, combines Anglo-American and continental scholarly approaches to examine attitudes on witchcraft and the treatment of suspected witches across the world, including in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Australia, and North and South America, and from ancient pagan times to current interpretations. His fresh anthropological and ethnographical approach focuses on cultural inheritance and change while considering shamanism, folk religion, the range of witch trials, and how the fear of witchcraft might be eradicated.

©2017 Ronald Hutton (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Anthropology Customs & Traditions Europe Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts Social Sciences World Witchcraft Magic Users Ancient History

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All stars
Most relevant  
The detail and the factual representation of witchcraft, magic and shaminism throughout the ages is undoubtedly well done. Perhaps I'm not the right audience but I found the book very difficult to follow in terms of a smooth storyline. I felt there was a topic chosen (e.g. Shaminism) then geographically vast and unrelated case studies of that topic were explained. I was hoping for a clear chronological timeline, covering development and evolution of each topic in that point in time. Good but heavy reading.

Detailed but heavy

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An ambitious review of the entire history of witchcraft. I learnt a lot - the overall picture building up to give a fascinating picture of this aspect of human history. I hadn’t realised how widespread it is, and how certain aspects are common and others are not. Excellent basis for further study.

Comprehensive review of the history of witchcraft

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I thought this was a story rather than a history of The Witch well read

well read great story full of lovely descriptions

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Struggled at times just because of the volume of information. However, found this book so interesting. left me wanting to know more and listen to it again to absorb more

so interesting

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It's not that this is bad as such, it's just misrepresented. This is, for the most part, a history of the study of OTHER studies on witchcraft, rather than itself an original study. So, so many citations and quotations and references that it stopped being engaging (although you have to respect the author's study of said studies). Just too dry for me.

Not engaging

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it really put to bed alot of unproven theory's which I had inadvertently picked up from new age sources. Great to be informed by such a brilliant mind.
The nuration and tone of voice was perfect for the subject matter and really gave a tricky subject at points great staying power.
I Higly recommend this to anyone with an interest in anything like witchcraft and or neo paganism.

Brilliantly challenges previous ideas.

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Enjoyed this but had to listen in small snippets as it contained so much information and research. That said it is an easy listen as written in plain English.

Enjoyed this

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Huge and wide ranging subject matter, very broad and deep
Interesting, a bit turgid in sections where it becomes too academic in tone
Hutton does the voice acting? If so it's impressive, he has a lively and engaging voice.

A scholarly work of immense magnitude

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I can't say that book was good purchase, boring at best but I didn't listen to the end.

It's very difficult to get truth 1chapter.

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looked forward to listening to this as witchcraft was covered on my degree course but I couldn't listen to the narrator, he made it all sound so very dull....I'm afraid I had to give up. It's a shame the author couldn't have narrated. A disappointment as I'm sure I would have found it really interesting.

Dull narrator

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