Title: A History of Witchcraft
Second Edition
Authors: Jeffery B. Russell and Brooks Alexander
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
ISBN: 0500286345
This is a rather comprehensive book covering the history of witchcraft starting with the late middle ages. Don't be fooled by its slim appearance, this book is packed with a lot of great detail. It gives an extensive explanation of what the troubles were that caused the infamous 'Burning Times' and maps out a fairly clear path of the rise of modern witchcraft. I find this book to be a little bit dated but it is approximately ten years old. If a third edition is out, I would snap that up in a heartbeat.
The discussion of the differences between sorcerer, heretic, and neopagan is interesting. It is also timely considering the increased resistance towards the idea of witchcraft within the United States. It would be wise to review the social system imbalances that gave rise to the 'Burning Times' and consider the parallels to today.
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