On Witchcraft: An Abridged Translation of Johann Weyer's De Praestigiis Daemonum

by Johann Weyer, Benjamin G. Kohl (Editor), H.C. Erik Midelfort (Editor)

First published in 1563 at the height of the witchcraft craze, Weyer's De praestigiis daemonum went through four major revisions by 1583. The book was immensely popular for its rich theological, philological, legal, and medical approaches to comprehending the complex phenomena known as witchcraft. The first complete English translation of the work was published by MRTS in 1991. This abridgement by two major Renaissance historians makes it available to a larger audience. Selections generally adhere to those Weyer made for his first German translation of his work. Omitted sections are summarized. This volume is a veritable encyclopedia of popular customs and beliefs, classical literature and culture, canon law, and medicine, and is immensely important for the study of history, witchcraft, folklore, psychology and psychiatry, and religion.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

330 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1998