Witches and Warlocks of Massachusetts: Legends, Victims, and Sinister Spellcasters

by Peter Muise

Witches and Warlocks of Massachusetts is a collection of legends and historical accounts about witches and warlocks from the Bay State. Organized by region, city and town, the book dozens of stories including the earliest Puritan accounts of 17th century witches, urban legends about desolate locations haunted by ghostly witch hunt victims, tales of Cape Cod sailors battling witches, and other stories of sinister (and sometimes sympathetic) spellcasters. Massachusetts has a rich history of witchcraft that spans nearly four centuries. Most people are aware of the Salem witch trials but fewer know about the Dogtown witches, the Pepperell farmer who hired a hypnotist to save his bewitched daughter, or Half-Hanged Mary, the witch who died twice and inspired The Handmaid's Tale. These stories are known locally in the towns where they occurred but have never been collected into one book before.

Genres: Nonfiction

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2021

Reviews

[JamesH · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic collection of New England historical and folktales of witches and warlocks. Muise’s writing voice is conversational and I enjoyed the sections where he breaks the fourth wall and provides some sarcasm - i can imagine him leaning over and whispering these bitchy things into my ears. A must read for anyone that loves early American history, folklore, and some good old Hocus Pocus.

[Irene Lázaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro mezcla leyendas locales con procesos legales de brujería en Massachusetts. Por supuesto, el capítulo de Salem es el más largo. Me ha resultado interesante, aunque hubiera preferido que, o bien fuera más analítico, con notas a pie de página y citando las fuentes, o bien más literario, narrando las tradiciones de forma más florida.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read! Funny, odd, and sometimes tragic stories of witchcraft, from the falsely accused to mysterious landmarks, fill the pages. Stories are organized by Massachusetts region and town, and there's bound to be a spot or anecdote near you. Five stars.

[Vienna Manzanares · Rating 5 out of 5]

– I was pleasantly surprised by how this historical re-telling unfolded. While the author maintains a factual tone when discussing the different events, there is also an element of personality, making it feel less “non-fiction,” if you will—almost more of a storytelling tone than a factual recollection. The style, dialect, and moments of satire all come together to create an entertaining yet historically informative work. Another element that stood out was the organization of the events presented. The author breaks up the stories by location, which was helpful considering the timeline of events is not chronological; rather, the author skips around but stays with a given region. I also liked the inclusion of historical events, legends, and possible truths. This gives a complete perspective into how witches have been displayed in society, whether historical or for storytelling purposes. In general, this is a fun read if you have any interest in history, witches, and less “analytical” non-fiction pieces. I definitely recommend it!