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Witchcraft in Early Modern Poland, 1500-1800
This comprehensive study examines Polish demonology in relation to witchcraft trials in Wielkopolska, revealing the witch as a force for both good and evil. It explores the use of witchcraft, the nature of accusations and the role of gender.
260 pages, Hardcover
First published October 2, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 23, 2017
This is a very comprehensive look at the Witchcraft trials in Poland. Wyporska's data was gathered from the most comprehensive listings of the trials that she could find which came from one sample in Wielkopolska, and therefore this study is not to be taken as representing Poland as a whole.
Wyporska looks at the context surrounding the trials including environmental and climactic changes, political and social unrest, and religious beliefs. In doing this she gives an incredibly vivid account of the era in which the witch trials took place within Wielkopolska, highlighting the tensions within the society between different classes, Protestanism and Catholicism, as well as gender.
Wyporska looks both at trial records, and at the literature of the time, highlighting the somewhat contradictory and complex way in which witches were viewed during the period, as well as the differences and similarities between the Polish trials and trials which took place in Europe.
I was drawn to this book and its study due to my own Polish ancestry, and my interest in Witchcraft history. I found the book to be incredibly helpful in detailing the context of the trials and some of the varied beliefs of the accused, and of the general populace.
The most fascinating and disturbing aspect of my study of this book and others like it, has been the similarity between the witch trials and the trials which still take place within African countries, and other parts of the world. The same patterns present themselves in communities which are fraught with drought, inclement weather, food shortages, political struggles, patriarchal domination, and religious and community tension.
Whether one is interested in the trials in general, or particularly with the Polish trials, I highly recommend this book.
Wyporska looks at the context surrounding the trials including environmental and climactic changes, political and social unrest, and religious beliefs. In doing this she gives an incredibly vivid account of the era in which the witch trials took place within Wielkopolska, highlighting the tensions within the society between different classes, Protestanism and Catholicism, as well as gender.
Wyporska looks both at trial records, and at the literature of the time, highlighting the somewhat contradictory and complex way in which witches were viewed during the period, as well as the differences and similarities between the Polish trials and trials which took place in Europe.
I was drawn to this book and its study due to my own Polish ancestry, and my interest in Witchcraft history. I found the book to be incredibly helpful in detailing the context of the trials and some of the varied beliefs of the accused, and of the general populace.
The most fascinating and disturbing aspect of my study of this book and others like it, has been the similarity between the witch trials and the trials which still take place within African countries, and other parts of the world. The same patterns present themselves in communities which are fraught with drought, inclement weather, food shortages, political struggles, patriarchal domination, and religious and community tension.
Whether one is interested in the trials in general, or particularly with the Polish trials, I highly recommend this book.
February 11, 2023
To raczej dotyczy wersji polskiej bo do tej miałem dostęp, ale widać tam problemy z tłumaczeniem gdzie tłumaczenie (najprawdopodobniej) z powrotem na polski źródeł przetłumaczonych na angielski jest najbardziej widoczne, ale nie wyjątkowe. Na pewno dobrze jest zobaczyć co w anglojęzycznym ubiegu ma być już podstawową dostępną pracą, ale widać że było momentami pisane dla czytelnika, któremu trzeba tłumaczyć rzeczy które chyba "naukowy" polski odbiorca tekstu historycznego ma znać domyślnie. Brakuje tu też choćby ze dwóch stron jakiegoś komentarza dla polskich czytelników. Tak samo też nie siedzę aż tak głęboko w temacie ale i od powstanie tego tekstu w 2008/2012 też trochę ruszyły badania i wydawano publikacje czy wydawnictwa źródłowe do czasu polskiego tłumaczenia z 2021 i też brakuje jakiegoś dodatku o tym.
I oczywiście tytuł jest trochę przekłamany bo praca dotyczy tylko samej Wielkopolski.
I oczywiście tytuł jest trochę przekłamany bo praca dotyczy tylko samej Wielkopolski.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews