Colby

I think that this might be the best of the "History in an Hour" series. It delivers a good amount of information in a short time, is well told and easy to follow. The narrator has a good voice and pace, so even if listened to in the background, one will not so easily lose track of the story line. For all of those who just want to refresh their knowledge on this subject or want some basic info, this is a good investment.

First of all I must say that the title can be somewhat misleading. I was expecting a history of witchcraft, but was served more of a history of witch hunting and trials. Since I am interested in both subjects though, this is not a big deal, but please have this in mind before purchasing this title hoping for descriptions of origins, rituals or evolution of the witches themselves. This book is more about human superstition and stupidity, and their effects on society and the individual, thus can be viewed rather as a work about politics and human rights than magic. It is quite scary to imagine what an uneducated mob is capable of when backed by authorities, and how genocidal people seem to be if not kept at bay. It is impossible not to think of WWII when hearing about what went down in the times of witches and wizards.

That being said, I must admit that it was a very interesting listen. The narration is solid and the story itself compelling enough to keep your attention throughout. I did learn a few new things and some parts of the book are really exciting. There might be better books out there, and this is by far no spectacular work, but I think the price is fair for the content provided. I would not force people to try it, but can recommend it to those curious enough about the on-goings in courts of countries that nowadays represent the pillars of rationality and civilization. Works as these point out how far we have come, despite all our flaws, but also how fragile society is if not maintained.

Addictive, interesting, informative.

The whole work is excellent. Loved the switch from biographical part to general WWII history details.

A must have for history fans. It is quite a lengthy volume, but it is never dull and very well worth the time.