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Witch Hunt: A Traveler's Guide to the Power and Persecution of the Witch
Part history, part travelogue, part memoir, Witch Hunt is a captivating guide to the historic witch hunts and how their legacy continues to impact us today.
Traveling through cities and sites across Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Kristen J. Sollée—a second-generation witch herself—explores the witch as a figure of female power and persecution. By infusing an adventurous first-person narrative with extensive research and imaginative historical fiction, Witch Hunt captures the magic of travel to make an often-overlooked period of history come alive.
Between the 15th-17th centuries, a confluence of political, economic, and religious factors inspired witch hysteria to ignite like wildfire across Europe, and, later, parts of America. At the heart of the witch hunts were often dangerous misconceptions about femininity and female sexuality, and women were disproportionately punished as a result. Today, this lineage of oppression remains an important reference point through which we can contemplate women’s rights—and human rights—in the Western world and beyond.
Witch Hunt isn’t only an exploration of the horrors of history, but also uncovers how the archetype of the witch has been rehabilitated. For witches are not just haunting figures of the past; the witch is also a liberatory icon and identity of the present.
Traveling through cities and sites across Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Kristen J. Sollée—a second-generation witch herself—explores the witch as a figure of female power and persecution. By infusing an adventurous first-person narrative with extensive research and imaginative historical fiction, Witch Hunt captures the magic of travel to make an often-overlooked period of history come alive.
Between the 15th-17th centuries, a confluence of political, economic, and religious factors inspired witch hysteria to ignite like wildfire across Europe, and, later, parts of America. At the heart of the witch hunts were often dangerous misconceptions about femininity and female sexuality, and women were disproportionately punished as a result. Today, this lineage of oppression remains an important reference point through which we can contemplate women’s rights—and human rights—in the Western world and beyond.
Witch Hunt isn’t only an exploration of the horrors of history, but also uncovers how the archetype of the witch has been rehabilitated. For witches are not just haunting figures of the past; the witch is also a liberatory icon and identity of the present.
7 pages, Audiobook
First published October 5, 2020
47 people are currently reading
1282 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 1, 2021
Trudno mi do końca powiedzieć, czym miała być ta książka. Jest za mało konkretna, by być pracą popularno-naukową. Zbyt wiele jest tu odautorskiego komentarza i elementów fikcji. Traktuję Polowanie na wiedźmy raczej jako zapis podróży, jakiś bardzo osobisty rodzaj prozy, który nie jest jednak na tyle intymny, by ukrywać go przed czytelnikami. Ta plątanina, w której utknęłam, zastanawiając się nad tym, jak traktować ten utwór, sprawił, że nie do końca się z tą książką polubiłam. Uwielbiam, kiedy autorzy śmiało wykraczają poza granice gatunków i konwencji, mieszając w swoich pracach tropy, które nie pozwalają jednoznacznie zaszufladkować ich utworów. Tutaj jednak nad całością wisi widmo bezcelowości. Czym do końca ta książka miała być?
Dla mnie osobiście była kluczeniem wokół tematu. I niczym więcej.
Autorka przytacza tu co najmniej kilkanaście niezwykle interesujących historii kobiet (a także czasem mężczyzn), które miały lub mogły mieć coś wspólnego z magią i czarami. Przytacza społeczny kontekst pojęcia "wiedźmy", zastanawia się nad tym, na ile wróżenie i rzucanie klątw mogło mieć rację bytu, podkreśla, jak cienka granica dzieli świętą i czarownicę. Wszystko to jednak jest tu podane w formie skrótowej, bardzo ogólnej i niewyczerpującej. To tylko rzucenie na wiatr wątków, które szybko urywają się, a czytelnik nie ma możliwości ich zgłębić. To taka książka-starter, która jedynie rozbudza apetyt, ale nikogo nie syci.
Dla mnie osobiście była kluczeniem wokół tematu. I niczym więcej.
Autorka przytacza tu co najmniej kilkanaście niezwykle interesujących historii kobiet (a także czasem mężczyzn), które miały lub mogły mieć coś wspólnego z magią i czarami. Przytacza społeczny kontekst pojęcia "wiedźmy", zastanawia się nad tym, na ile wróżenie i rzucanie klątw mogło mieć rację bytu, podkreśla, jak cienka granica dzieli świętą i czarownicę. Wszystko to jednak jest tu podane w formie skrótowej, bardzo ogólnej i niewyczerpującej. To tylko rzucenie na wiatr wątków, które szybko urywają się, a czytelnik nie ma możliwości ich zgłębić. To taka książka-starter, która jedynie rozbudza apetyt, ale nikogo nie syci.
June 28, 2021
This was disappointingly middle of the road for me. It works great as a Europe/US centric travel guide as the author travels to some interesting places, especially if you're into the history of the witch trials or if the witchy/goth scene is your vibe. But not so great as an informative guide about the actual persecution of women or any of the consequences of the witch hysteria. There were too many of the author's fictional thoughts which were entertaining but not informative. This lack of detail spoiled it for me.
December 8, 2020
I couldn't even finish this book. I loved the idea of it and was so excited to read it but the way its written is filled with such white feminism. Felt like there was not even a drop of critical thinking on how the persecution of witches effected POC communities, even when she was talking specifically about POC communities. Disappointing.
April 16, 2023
I applaud the author for boldly traveling solo throughout Europe; her adventures in Italy were particularly fascinating. And each location (historically, culturally and socially) sounded like an amazing place to begin an adventure. That being said, the overall journey itself was a bit choppy, disjointed (I know that the author wanted to stick to her own personal ancestral locations) and felt somewhat incomplete. Perhaps a second volume is in order to expand to include more countries or continents even. What’s here was good but ultimately left me seeking more.
October 5, 2020
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Author and second-generation witch Kristen Sollee previously wrote a primer of sorts with Witches, Sluts, Feminsts: Conjuring the Sex Positive--an introduction into the parallels between the sex positive icons/tropes of witches, sluts, and feminists. I was expecting a similar writing style for Witch Hunt: A Traveler's Guide to the Power and Persecution of the Witch. However, in this book, her writing style veers away from academic theory into first-person immersion into historical events and stories. The style is a bit difficult to explain but think of it this way: If you were part of a tour group visiting a church famous for its association with a particular woman you would expect your tour guide (Sollee) to create a circle of your group and tell you all the story of the woman. In this book the tour guide has a one-on-one conversation with the woman while the tour group is outside the circle. It is such a unique style that I am having trouble finding comparisons to offer. While I was fascinated with the stories I struggled with the style because it blurred the lines of historical fiction and non-fiction in a way that had me constantly questioning what parts were facts and what parts were offered from Sollee's creative mind. I would say that if you love books about witches, like me, then it is worth checking this out, but if you're just looking for a "witchy" October read, this one might not be what you're looking for.
Come chat with me about books here, too:
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
Author and second-generation witch Kristen Sollee previously wrote a primer of sorts with Witches, Sluts, Feminsts: Conjuring the Sex Positive--an introduction into the parallels between the sex positive icons/tropes of witches, sluts, and feminists. I was expecting a similar writing style for Witch Hunt: A Traveler's Guide to the Power and Persecution of the Witch. However, in this book, her writing style veers away from academic theory into first-person immersion into historical events and stories. The style is a bit difficult to explain but think of it this way: If you were part of a tour group visiting a church famous for its association with a particular woman you would expect your tour guide (Sollee) to create a circle of your group and tell you all the story of the woman. In this book the tour guide has a one-on-one conversation with the woman while the tour group is outside the circle. It is such a unique style that I am having trouble finding comparisons to offer. While I was fascinated with the stories I struggled with the style because it blurred the lines of historical fiction and non-fiction in a way that had me constantly questioning what parts were facts and what parts were offered from Sollee's creative mind. I would say that if you love books about witches, like me, then it is worth checking this out, but if you're just looking for a "witchy" October read, this one might not be what you're looking for.
Come chat with me about books here, too:
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
December 6, 2020
An extensive account of the history of witches and witchcraft. The author travels to various places where she collects and details the complete story. We all know the famous Salem witch trials but what about the others? We rarely recognize the ones that happened in other places where women with unknown diseases at that time or with other health ailments were immediately executed in the name of witchcraft. Speaking of the horrors and tortures that these ‘witches’ had to face, the author exceptionally arranges the events which not created history but also made sure to show all sides of the incident.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Amy McFadden and she has done an amazing job narrating it. This book takes you on a journey where you’ll learn about various historic witch hunts that occurred back in the early 15th – 17th century in Europe and the US. It was fascinating as well as horrifying to read about the things that they had to undergo. The title is apt as it will guide you through everything and every place without you actually visiting that destination.
I think this a good read if you interested in knowing the events and facts that were lost or suppressed over the course of history as they continue to influence our present times as well. For me, it was a 5 stars book.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Amy McFadden and she has done an amazing job narrating it. This book takes you on a journey where you’ll learn about various historic witch hunts that occurred back in the early 15th – 17th century in Europe and the US. It was fascinating as well as horrifying to read about the things that they had to undergo. The title is apt as it will guide you through everything and every place without you actually visiting that destination.
I think this a good read if you interested in knowing the events and facts that were lost or suppressed over the course of history as they continue to influence our present times as well. For me, it was a 5 stars book.
July 6, 2024
*deep sigh*
First and foremost, americans, stop thinking that if you visit Italy, UK, Germany and France, you visit Europe. It's like having a ticket to see the Library of Alexandria and only visiting the main lobby to read the flyers.
Secondly, i received this book as a gift, so i went into it not really knowing what it is about. I expected some cool stories/legends about witches, some new interesting places to visit, and some commentary on witches'history.
Nah, instead, i read extensive reviews of hotels, towns, and museums.. And the insight she offers is so obvious and redundant. She tries to insert some stories, but some of them are from her imagination, and it just comes out as weird and not reliable. And when she cites other pieces of literature, it feels boring. So the duality of the tone (sometimes she tries to be artistic, sometimes she cites like it's a thesis and she needs to meet the word count) just makes this book very hard to like.
Oh, and also, she mentions her other book like 3 times. Ugh.
Lastly, how are you a grown woman thinking you are a witch i'll never understand. And the story with the ouija board that moved...girl. ok, sure.
So, would i recommend this book? Absolutely not. If i were to give any recommendations based on this book, it would be for americans to stop writing books of what could easily be just Yelp/TripAdvisor reviews.
First and foremost, americans, stop thinking that if you visit Italy, UK, Germany and France, you visit Europe. It's like having a ticket to see the Library of Alexandria and only visiting the main lobby to read the flyers.
Secondly, i received this book as a gift, so i went into it not really knowing what it is about. I expected some cool stories/legends about witches, some new interesting places to visit, and some commentary on witches'history.
Nah, instead, i read extensive reviews of hotels, towns, and museums.. And the insight she offers is so obvious and redundant. She tries to insert some stories, but some of them are from her imagination, and it just comes out as weird and not reliable. And when she cites other pieces of literature, it feels boring. So the duality of the tone (sometimes she tries to be artistic, sometimes she cites like it's a thesis and she needs to meet the word count) just makes this book very hard to like.
Oh, and also, she mentions her other book like 3 times. Ugh.
Lastly, how are you a grown woman thinking you are a witch i'll never understand. And the story with the ouija board that moved...girl. ok, sure.
So, would i recommend this book? Absolutely not. If i were to give any recommendations based on this book, it would be for americans to stop writing books of what could easily be just Yelp/TripAdvisor reviews.
October 14, 2020
Loved this read! The perfect trifecta of stunning writing, creative, travel story-telling, and engaging and poignant lessons in witch history through place. Sollée takes you by the hand, back through time to enchanting places in Europe and the US. Through the lens of the torturous past of women accused of being witches, the author strikes the delicate balance between celebrating the beauty of the present and honoring the truth of the past. In a time when actual travel is so limited, this travel-lover was captivated to join the author on this unique journey. Diving into this fascinating, and beautiful book from my chair at home, satisfied my need to travel—for now. There is also a travel guide included in the back of the book. Brilliant!
November 14, 2023
Nie mam pojęcia czym to chciało być, ale wiem czym nie jest — dobrym wyczerpaniem tematu. Przenikanie tych „pseudowizji” z faktami i historiami było ogromnym rozczarowaniem. W pewnych momentach wręcz przeszkadzało w czytaniu. Człowiek liczył na zebrane w jednej książce ciekawych/najgłośniejszych procesów czarownic w Europie, a dostał przewodnik po miastach i prowincjach, gdzie kiedyś takie procesy miały miejsce. A w tle nutka „magii”, kiedy autorka widzi jak te biedne kobiety targano na stosy i jak się na nich paliły. Wykonanie naprawdę bardzo średnie, męczyłam się z nią przeokrutnie. Ani to odkrywcze, ani ciekawie — w ogólnym rozrachunku: miałkie
December 9, 2020
There were parts of this, mainly the historical parts, that were very interesting, but sometimes it felt like the author was bragging about her many travels, the nice hotels she stayed in, and the expensive restaurants she ate at. I enjoyed reading about the medieval towns, and would love to visit them. The history was great, but sometimes the author veered off into claiming she suddenly went back in time and spoke to the historical subjects. That was a little hard to believe. Witch Hunt did make my wanderlust come on strong.
April 25, 2022
About the Author
Kristen is a second generation witch. As well as being a writer she is also a curator and educator exploring art, gender and the occult. She is a lecturer at, The New School in New York. Her signature course is, ‘The Legacy of the Witch’ and it sounds amazing! It looks at Witches in history, pop culture and politics. I would LOVE to take that class.
Kristen’s work has been featured in The Guardian and National Geographic and she has written for a lot of other publications some of which include: The Huffington Post, VICE, and NYLON. As well as all that she founded and edited the feminist website Slutist, which was active between 2013 to 2019.
Kristen is the author of three books about the legacy of the Witch. They include: this one that I’m reviewing today, Witches, Sluts Feminists and Cat Call: Reclaiming the Feral Feminine. Both of which I am super interested in reading.
About the Book
Witch Hunt was published in 2020, so it’s been out a few years. However, I was super interested in it and I wanted to include it in my reviews for this year.
The blurb for the book reads,
“Traveling through cities and sites across Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Kristen J. Sollee – a second generation witch herself – explores the witch as a figure of female power and persecution. By infusing an adventurous, first person narrative with extensive research and imaginative historical fiction, Witch Hunt captures the magic of travel to make an often-overlooked period of history come alive.
Between the 15th and 17th centuries, a confluence of social, political, and religious factors inspired witch hysteria to ignite like wildfire across Europe and, later, parts of America. At the heart of the witch hunts were often dangerous misconceptions about femininity and female sexuality, and women were disproportionately punished as a result. Today, this lineage of oppression remains an important reference point through which we can contemplate women’s rights – and human rights- in the Western world and beyond.
Witch Hunt isn’t only an exploration of the horrors of history but also uncovers how the witch has been rehabilitated. For witches are not just haunting figures of the past; the witch is also a liberatory icon and identity of the present.”
Now if that doesn’t sound amazing to you I don’t know what would.
My Thoughts
As the blurb mentions, the book is an amalgamation of styles. It’s a travel journal, as the first person narrator (who I’m assuming is Kristen herself) makes their way through Europe and then America. It blends historical fact and fiction. There are elements of true witch history, that have obviously been thoroughly researched, mixed with vivid descriptions of visions of the Witches being discussed. It’s such a unique way to explore the history of the Witch hunts and that period of witch history.
I loved that it started in Italy. I am slightly obsessed with learning more about Italian Witchcraft, history and Strega, because my Grandmother’s family were from Italy. It’s always nice when I can read about Witches from Italy and England. The first chapter is set in Tuscany which is where I’ve tracked my family history to in Italy. I was hooked from the start.
As well as looking at Witches and Witchcraft history, it also dips into the path of magic and divination. Looking at early love spells, astrology and tarot in Italy. I feel like the chapters that focused on Italy, and later England with the Pendle Witches in Lancashire, were my favourite. I felt a connection with them. However, I loved reading about all the places covered. I’m sure you will connect with the places that are closest to you. The book also travels to France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and then across to America with Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, Salem, and then ending in New York where Kristen currently resides.
Even though it’s in the title; ‘A Traveler’s Guide’ I didn’t realise how important the travel element would be to this book, and it really is. It’s one of the things that makes it unique and interesting. It’s like the tourist guidebook you always wanted when visiting a place. Especially as a Witch. You can go to any place in the world and know that there is history there. However, they only share with you the history they want you to see. In this book Kristen has uncovered the history we all want to know. It makes me want to visit all of the places she mentions because I feel like I would have so much more appreciation for them. It brings to your attention a lot of things that even the locals may not know about where they live. It would be so cool to have city guidebooks done in this way; uncovering the real witchy history.
I did learn a lot from this book. Obviously what you take away from a book will be different to me, but I want to share some things that I took from it. The first part focuses on Italian history and Witchcraft. Like I mentioned it’s something I’ve been trying to research and learn about. I’d come to the conclusion that I wouldn’t be able to find any Witchcraft history or practices from Italy because it was all underground and hidden due to Italy’s obvious predilection for Catholicism. The majority of Italy was Catholic, however, it seems that Italian Witchcraft was very much mixed together with Catholicism. Kristen says that Witches in Italy were Pagan ‘slash’ Catholic. From what she experienced in Italy, it seems much Witch history was embedded within the Catholic buildings and cathedrals. The line was very much blurred and kept moving in terms of what the Church considered acceptable as part of the Catholic faith or Witchcraft. It has opened my thinking a lot, because I was very quick to disregard anything remotely Catholic or Christian as being important in Witchcraft history. However, I realise now they will always be inextricably linked.
The book and Kristen’s travels then moved from Italy to France. Starting with Paris and the story of Joan of Arc. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading about Joan of Arc. Obviously I knew the story, but to me she had always been a religious figure and that, again, hadn’t held much interest for me. However, Kristen presents her as so much more than that. She is a Saint, a Witch, a woman, a revolutionary, and is actually more than just these titles to a lot of people. I think Kristen’s narrative style and storytelling hooked me and I was again take along on this journey with her as she experienced Joan’s France.
One thing I really enjoyed, that came from the way the book was written, was the juxtaposition of the Witchcraft history with Kristen’s travels in the present. I was able to visualise, quite vividly, the places, when and where the historic events took place, and the modern ‘merch’ filled tourist destinations they became.
At this point I’m going to bring up one of my constructive criticisms – you know I hate to say that. Although Kristen’s writing is very visual and you can imagine a lot of the places she describes, I think it would have been nice if they had included some pictures. Not just pictures of the places and buildings that are mentioned in the book, but also the art. The book looks at how Witches have been portrayed in art throughout history and across countries. I would have liked to see pictures of the statues and paintings that are mentioned whilst reading about them. But this is a very small thing – they are not needed I think it would have been a nice extra to be able to see what is being talked about in the book. That was literally my only criticism, if it even is a criticism at all.
Something I think is important to mention is the conflicting feelings that the book brought up and feelings I think Kristen also experiences while travelling to the various places in the book. They are feelings related to Witchy Tourism. Visiting places, buildings, sites because they have a connection to Witchcraft history. On one hand it is important to remember and commemorate the real people that were involved and affected by the events of the Witch hunts. Yet some places, as Kristen experiences, have become very commercialised, and in some instances gimmicky and even fetishised. It’s very conflicting. Even though it was hundreds of years ago they were still real lives and it was difficult to work out how I felt about that aspect. It’s something I’m still thinking about now, because I know if I visited any of the places I too would probably get caught up in the touristy, commercialised aspect of it.
Obviously, talking about Witchcraft tourism I have to mention Salem. It is the most famous place when it comes to Witchcraft history and the Witch trials and is probably the most visited place for tourists. However I’m glad that the book doesn’t focus any more on Salem than it does any of the other places. It is given the same weighting as all of the others. Just because they are not as well known and have not become a part of culture, as Salem has, doesn’t mean they aren’t as important. It was actually really nice to have the histories of other places, something different, that a lot of Witchcraft books and histories just don’t mention.
Final Thoughts
Witch Hunt is beautifully written and very visual and literary in style. It’s enjoyable to follow Kristen’s travels through the various places she visits and it made me want to start planning my own trips.
If you love Witchy history, then you will definitely love this book. If you’ve already read a lot of Witch history then some of the book may be familiar to you. However, I think some of the information may be new to you and I don’t think there’s another book out there that delivers witchy history quite as good as Kristen does in this one. I think it is one of the best books, and my favourite, about the history of the Witch hunts. It feels like such a personal recount of her trip across Europe and beyond. Kristen intertwines a lush descriptive travel – log style with witchy history and her personal musings so beautifully.
I really did enjoy the book.
*Book was gifted by the publisher, Weiser books, in exchange for a review.
Kristen is a second generation witch. As well as being a writer she is also a curator and educator exploring art, gender and the occult. She is a lecturer at, The New School in New York. Her signature course is, ‘The Legacy of the Witch’ and it sounds amazing! It looks at Witches in history, pop culture and politics. I would LOVE to take that class.
Kristen’s work has been featured in The Guardian and National Geographic and she has written for a lot of other publications some of which include: The Huffington Post, VICE, and NYLON. As well as all that she founded and edited the feminist website Slutist, which was active between 2013 to 2019.
Kristen is the author of three books about the legacy of the Witch. They include: this one that I’m reviewing today, Witches, Sluts Feminists and Cat Call: Reclaiming the Feral Feminine. Both of which I am super interested in reading.
About the Book
Witch Hunt was published in 2020, so it’s been out a few years. However, I was super interested in it and I wanted to include it in my reviews for this year.
The blurb for the book reads,
“Traveling through cities and sites across Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Kristen J. Sollee – a second generation witch herself – explores the witch as a figure of female power and persecution. By infusing an adventurous, first person narrative with extensive research and imaginative historical fiction, Witch Hunt captures the magic of travel to make an often-overlooked period of history come alive.
Between the 15th and 17th centuries, a confluence of social, political, and religious factors inspired witch hysteria to ignite like wildfire across Europe and, later, parts of America. At the heart of the witch hunts were often dangerous misconceptions about femininity and female sexuality, and women were disproportionately punished as a result. Today, this lineage of oppression remains an important reference point through which we can contemplate women’s rights – and human rights- in the Western world and beyond.
Witch Hunt isn’t only an exploration of the horrors of history but also uncovers how the witch has been rehabilitated. For witches are not just haunting figures of the past; the witch is also a liberatory icon and identity of the present.”
Now if that doesn’t sound amazing to you I don’t know what would.
My Thoughts
As the blurb mentions, the book is an amalgamation of styles. It’s a travel journal, as the first person narrator (who I’m assuming is Kristen herself) makes their way through Europe and then America. It blends historical fact and fiction. There are elements of true witch history, that have obviously been thoroughly researched, mixed with vivid descriptions of visions of the Witches being discussed. It’s such a unique way to explore the history of the Witch hunts and that period of witch history.
I loved that it started in Italy. I am slightly obsessed with learning more about Italian Witchcraft, history and Strega, because my Grandmother’s family were from Italy. It’s always nice when I can read about Witches from Italy and England. The first chapter is set in Tuscany which is where I’ve tracked my family history to in Italy. I was hooked from the start.
As well as looking at Witches and Witchcraft history, it also dips into the path of magic and divination. Looking at early love spells, astrology and tarot in Italy. I feel like the chapters that focused on Italy, and later England with the Pendle Witches in Lancashire, were my favourite. I felt a connection with them. However, I loved reading about all the places covered. I’m sure you will connect with the places that are closest to you. The book also travels to France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and then across to America with Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, Salem, and then ending in New York where Kristen currently resides.
Even though it’s in the title; ‘A Traveler’s Guide’ I didn’t realise how important the travel element would be to this book, and it really is. It’s one of the things that makes it unique and interesting. It’s like the tourist guidebook you always wanted when visiting a place. Especially as a Witch. You can go to any place in the world and know that there is history there. However, they only share with you the history they want you to see. In this book Kristen has uncovered the history we all want to know. It makes me want to visit all of the places she mentions because I feel like I would have so much more appreciation for them. It brings to your attention a lot of things that even the locals may not know about where they live. It would be so cool to have city guidebooks done in this way; uncovering the real witchy history.
I did learn a lot from this book. Obviously what you take away from a book will be different to me, but I want to share some things that I took from it. The first part focuses on Italian history and Witchcraft. Like I mentioned it’s something I’ve been trying to research and learn about. I’d come to the conclusion that I wouldn’t be able to find any Witchcraft history or practices from Italy because it was all underground and hidden due to Italy’s obvious predilection for Catholicism. The majority of Italy was Catholic, however, it seems that Italian Witchcraft was very much mixed together with Catholicism. Kristen says that Witches in Italy were Pagan ‘slash’ Catholic. From what she experienced in Italy, it seems much Witch history was embedded within the Catholic buildings and cathedrals. The line was very much blurred and kept moving in terms of what the Church considered acceptable as part of the Catholic faith or Witchcraft. It has opened my thinking a lot, because I was very quick to disregard anything remotely Catholic or Christian as being important in Witchcraft history. However, I realise now they will always be inextricably linked.
The book and Kristen’s travels then moved from Italy to France. Starting with Paris and the story of Joan of Arc. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading about Joan of Arc. Obviously I knew the story, but to me she had always been a religious figure and that, again, hadn’t held much interest for me. However, Kristen presents her as so much more than that. She is a Saint, a Witch, a woman, a revolutionary, and is actually more than just these titles to a lot of people. I think Kristen’s narrative style and storytelling hooked me and I was again take along on this journey with her as she experienced Joan’s France.
One thing I really enjoyed, that came from the way the book was written, was the juxtaposition of the Witchcraft history with Kristen’s travels in the present. I was able to visualise, quite vividly, the places, when and where the historic events took place, and the modern ‘merch’ filled tourist destinations they became.
At this point I’m going to bring up one of my constructive criticisms – you know I hate to say that. Although Kristen’s writing is very visual and you can imagine a lot of the places she describes, I think it would have been nice if they had included some pictures. Not just pictures of the places and buildings that are mentioned in the book, but also the art. The book looks at how Witches have been portrayed in art throughout history and across countries. I would have liked to see pictures of the statues and paintings that are mentioned whilst reading about them. But this is a very small thing – they are not needed I think it would have been a nice extra to be able to see what is being talked about in the book. That was literally my only criticism, if it even is a criticism at all.
Something I think is important to mention is the conflicting feelings that the book brought up and feelings I think Kristen also experiences while travelling to the various places in the book. They are feelings related to Witchy Tourism. Visiting places, buildings, sites because they have a connection to Witchcraft history. On one hand it is important to remember and commemorate the real people that were involved and affected by the events of the Witch hunts. Yet some places, as Kristen experiences, have become very commercialised, and in some instances gimmicky and even fetishised. It’s very conflicting. Even though it was hundreds of years ago they were still real lives and it was difficult to work out how I felt about that aspect. It’s something I’m still thinking about now, because I know if I visited any of the places I too would probably get caught up in the touristy, commercialised aspect of it.
Obviously, talking about Witchcraft tourism I have to mention Salem. It is the most famous place when it comes to Witchcraft history and the Witch trials and is probably the most visited place for tourists. However I’m glad that the book doesn’t focus any more on Salem than it does any of the other places. It is given the same weighting as all of the others. Just because they are not as well known and have not become a part of culture, as Salem has, doesn’t mean they aren’t as important. It was actually really nice to have the histories of other places, something different, that a lot of Witchcraft books and histories just don’t mention.
Final Thoughts
Witch Hunt is beautifully written and very visual and literary in style. It’s enjoyable to follow Kristen’s travels through the various places she visits and it made me want to start planning my own trips.
If you love Witchy history, then you will definitely love this book. If you’ve already read a lot of Witch history then some of the book may be familiar to you. However, I think some of the information may be new to you and I don’t think there’s another book out there that delivers witchy history quite as good as Kristen does in this one. I think it is one of the best books, and my favourite, about the history of the Witch hunts. It feels like such a personal recount of her trip across Europe and beyond. Kristen intertwines a lush descriptive travel – log style with witchy history and her personal musings so beautifully.
I really did enjoy the book.
*Book was gifted by the publisher, Weiser books, in exchange for a review.
April 21, 2023
Dowiedziałam się może niewiele ale mimo to sprawiło mi dużą przyjemność czytanie tej książki i nie jest jakaś ciężka do czytania, prosty język. Mam wrażenie jednak, że głównie zawiera odczucia autora a nie treści dla której sięgnęłam po tą książkę. Co nie zepsuło mi radości czytania
March 18, 2021
Książka trochę nie wie czym jest - to bardziej zapis z podróży niż praca popularno-naukowa czy badawcza. Zaczyna wiele wątków, ale brnie przez nie tylko powierzchownie, pozostawiając niedosyt. Dobre na wstęp do tematu.
November 23, 2025
W dupie mam jakiego smaku lody jadła autorka.
December 4, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
While I loved the premise - witch history meets travel - this slim tome felt lacking. It was entirely Euro-centric and even the chapter on Salem glossed over Tituba. Witches and witchcraft is in every country and culture and it would have been a better use of the author’s time to include locations and people who weren’t lily white.
Such wasted potential.
While I loved the premise - witch history meets travel - this slim tome felt lacking. It was entirely Euro-centric and even the chapter on Salem glossed over Tituba. Witches and witchcraft is in every country and culture and it would have been a better use of the author’s time to include locations and people who weren’t lily white.
Such wasted potential.
December 9, 2025
A hybrid travel guide and memoir which at points dips into the realms of historical fiction, Witch Hunt reflects research gleaned from travels to seven countries, forty-five cities, towns, and villages. Through her intrepid adventures across Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, Sollee explores the fraught and fascinating history of these haunting figures from the past and uncovers how the archetype of the witch has been rehabilitated as a symbol of power.
We learn of the trauma and tragedy baked into the history of these places but also of how they have resurrected and reclaimed this archetype for commerce, community, and activism. Her descriptions of the locations and spaces she spends time in are bubbling with an intensely curious spirit, wicked sharp observations, and expansive, imaginative storytelling, with an eye toward both the sensitivity crucial to the conversation of these archetypes as well as the actual people involved in these histories and an irrepressible sense of humor and the absurd. In Witch Hunt, Sollee is indisputably at the height of both her writerly and witchly powers.
We learn of the trauma and tragedy baked into the history of these places but also of how they have resurrected and reclaimed this archetype for commerce, community, and activism. Her descriptions of the locations and spaces she spends time in are bubbling with an intensely curious spirit, wicked sharp observations, and expansive, imaginative storytelling, with an eye toward both the sensitivity crucial to the conversation of these archetypes as well as the actual people involved in these histories and an irrepressible sense of humor and the absurd. In Witch Hunt, Sollee is indisputably at the height of both her writerly and witchly powers.
June 28, 2021
Contains: Some history lessons, also torture.
Genre(s): Non-Fiction, Travelogue
Summery: Travel guide for witchy destinations across Europe and the US.
What I enjoyed about this story: There were some interesting tourists sites mentioned.
What I didn't enjoy about this story: There was a lack of discussion about the actual persecution of all the victims who lost their lives to the witch hysteria.
Official rating: 3 stars
Genre(s): Non-Fiction, Travelogue
Summery: Travel guide for witchy destinations across Europe and the US.
What I enjoyed about this story: There were some interesting tourists sites mentioned.
What I didn't enjoy about this story: There was a lack of discussion about the actual persecution of all the victims who lost their lives to the witch hysteria.
Official rating: 3 stars
October 30, 2020
I received an advance copy of this book for work and will have an article about it soon at Religion News Service. Meantime, I’ll say at a time when nobody is going anywhere, it was a delight to travel the world with Kristen J. Sollee in the deeply thought-provoking pages of “Witch Hunt.”
November 17, 2020
Really glad I bought this instead of getting it from the library. Many rereads in my future
February 8, 2021
I wish it was longer. There’s a few cities visited and I almost wish there was more to some Chapters. But a fun read for me.
September 12, 2021
I certainly enjoyed Sollee's colorful writing, but it seemed like every other destination involved a booze-laden trip starting from the local bar. Maybe that only happened once, but all the feverish-hallucination style visions seem drug induced, or at least you get drunk on the descriptions themselves, caught up in the heat of emotions and fires of today and hundreds of years ago simultaneously.
The flow between descriptive, imaginative, and instructional elements of the writing could get a bit awkward at times. One paragraph bombarded me with sourced statements and endless parenthetical citations without getting around to backing up the actual point.
Her lipstick came up a couple times too, which, lady, we're all excited to finally be finding out personal style as we age, but you can't just bring it up whenever you want... I only talk about my hairstyle when other people mention it!
The flow between descriptive, imaginative, and instructional elements of the writing could get a bit awkward at times. One paragraph bombarded me with sourced statements and endless parenthetical citations without getting around to backing up the actual point.
Her lipstick came up a couple times too, which, lady, we're all excited to finally be finding out personal style as we age, but you can't just bring it up whenever you want... I only talk about my hairstyle when other people mention it!
October 16, 2023
3.5
I loved how this was told in the journey fashion with the individual witch stories and commentary on witches included within these various physical stops, such as, and especially well-done, Salem Massachusetts. However, since the author, herself, must be a witch, she left out some, I think, details important to a novice, non witch. Some of the writing was also too academic from that standpoint.
I loved how this was told in the journey fashion with the individual witch stories and commentary on witches included within these various physical stops, such as, and especially well-done, Salem Massachusetts. However, since the author, herself, must be a witch, she left out some, I think, details important to a novice, non witch. Some of the writing was also too academic from that standpoint.
June 1, 2021
1.75
Całkowicie spartaczony potencjał książki. Gdy odłożyłam tę pozycję to pomyślałam, że autorka nie do końca wiedziała ostatecznie o czym chce napisać. Popularnonaukową pozycję o czarownicach, czy eseje w stylu Chollet i Solnit. Ostatecznie spróbowała połączyć obie te koncepcje i wyszło 250 stron dreptania wokół tematu, ale niewiele konkretów i w sumie nijaka opowieść, o tym jak autorka zwiedza Europę i raz na jakiś czas opowie coś ciekawego. Szkoda...
Całkowicie spartaczony potencjał książki. Gdy odłożyłam tę pozycję to pomyślałam, że autorka nie do końca wiedziała ostatecznie o czym chce napisać. Popularnonaukową pozycję o czarownicach, czy eseje w stylu Chollet i Solnit. Ostatecznie spróbowała połączyć obie te koncepcje i wyszło 250 stron dreptania wokół tematu, ale niewiele konkretów i w sumie nijaka opowieść, o tym jak autorka zwiedza Europę i raz na jakiś czas opowie coś ciekawego. Szkoda...
April 7, 2021
I thought it was a great look into the history of witchcraft and resulting persecution, and who doesn’t love a subtle feminist twist
December 8, 2020
An armchair travelogue exploring various cities around the world and their connection to the history of witchcraft and the persecution of women, this is the perfect 2020 book.
Sollee blends a bit of memoir and personal narrative with the interesting and often sad history of witches and women who were just too different and therefore condemned by society. I learned a lot about figures like Joan of Arc (more of a witch than you'd think!) and places I'd love to visit like Triora, an Italian mountain village that was host to a witch hunt and now is a celebrated spot for witchy festivals.
I especially appreciated how Sollee grappled with difficult questions, constantly contending with the divide between modern day celebrations and the bloody pasts they are built on—a past that is often glossed over in favor of fun and commercialization.
She pays homage to the women who struggled and paved the way, leaving the reader with a broader and more appreciative perspective of the past and how that past creates our present.
I am really interested to pick up Sollee's other book about the history of witches, Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive.
Sollee blends a bit of memoir and personal narrative with the interesting and often sad history of witches and women who were just too different and therefore condemned by society. I learned a lot about figures like Joan of Arc (more of a witch than you'd think!) and places I'd love to visit like Triora, an Italian mountain village that was host to a witch hunt and now is a celebrated spot for witchy festivals.
I especially appreciated how Sollee grappled with difficult questions, constantly contending with the divide between modern day celebrations and the bloody pasts they are built on—a past that is often glossed over in favor of fun and commercialization.
She pays homage to the women who struggled and paved the way, leaving the reader with a broader and more appreciative perspective of the past and how that past creates our present.
I am really interested to pick up Sollee's other book about the history of witches, Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive.
November 18, 2025
At the beginning of this book, Sollee brings up a good point: today, we tend to glorify the witch trials and forget that these were people. They burned women. We do often lose the necessary respect and mourning for the deceased and the sexism that led to their unfair parting that is still very much present in our culture today. She then goes on to glorify them extremely and repetitively like she did not just insist that it was not her intention. Then, she repeatedly inserted how glamorous her vacations were in a "but enough about that" style that I found to be in poor taste. I didn't finish the book because of it. There are some interesting points of view and accounts in this book, but I don't think I'd recommend it.
August 18, 2021
Nie wiem czy to kwestia złego tłumaczenia, ale nie da się tego po prostu czytać. Pretensjonalność języka jest na niesamowitym poziomie (teksty w stylu „kamienie śpiewały pod moimi szpilkami” co akapit). Tłumaczka chyba sobie nie poradziła (local government jako lokalny rząd? Nikt nie słyszał tam w redakcji o samorządzie? Jaded jako jadeitowy???). Opis na okładce nie ma wiele wspólnego z treścią. Książka to jakieś zapiski z podróży autorki luźno powiązane z podstawowymi i naciąganymi historiami o czarownicach, i to raczej kiepskiej jakości. Nie polecam, jest to pseudopopliteratura w biedawydaniu.
December 22, 2020
I love the idea of this book but had a very difficult time with the writing style. The more fictional anecdotes felt forced while bouncing back and forth to scholarly references just left me feeling confused every other page. Not even sure I can remember anything I read except for the overarching idea of the witch hunts being problematic.
February 26, 2023
About as satisfying as a dry pretzel instead of a three-course meal. You’ll find here more pseudophilosophical musings and flowery descriptions than facts and in-depth research. The concept of showing the history of witchcraft and witch hunts through travel has drawn me to this title - it is a great idea - but it becomes clear very early into the book that it could have been better executed.
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