The Salem Witch Trials

A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege

Based on 27 years of original archival research, including the discovery of previously unknown documents, this day-by-day narrative of the hysteria that swept through Salem Village in 1692 and 1693 reveals new connections behind the events and shows how rapidly a community can descend into bloodthirsty madness. Roach opens her work with chapters on the history of the Puritan colonies of New England and explains how these people regarded the metaphysical and the supernatural. The account of the days from January 1692 to March 1693 keeps in order the large cast of characters, places events in their correct contexts, and occasionally contradicts earlier assumptions about the gruesome events. The last chapter discusses the remarkable impact of the events, pointing out how the 300th anniversary of the trials made headlines in Japan and Australia.

©2002 Marilynne K. Roach (P)2020 Tantor

Revealing and detailed

I feel like I understand this set of events much more deeply and clearly after reading this book.

An excellent day by day recitation of the events.

The most thorough book I’ve read on the Salem Witch Trials. The day by day recitations and original sources showed what the participants were thinking at the time. The reader did a great job of changing voices for the different people which helped you track who was saying what.

Well now I know more!!

29 hour read, and what a detailed adventure full of sadness and sorrow. The narrator she is amazing and really captivates you for word to word. You really feel for the accused! The court documents shed so much more light on this tragic story. If you want to have a deep dive into the Salem Witch Trials, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!!!

very interesting.

this was a very good book. Had lots of detail and very interesting. I heard stuff that I'd never heard before.

A complete and fascinating accounting

I have been interested in the events surrounding 1692 for years having read various fiction and non fiction books. Marilynne K Roach’s book has been on my shelf with occasional glances through sections as it’s a very large book! Finding the audio was perfect as listening to the day by day accounting with a great narrator made the story come alive and made the 27 hours absolutely fascinating. The author spent 27 years writing and editing the historical events of 1692 and the hours I spent listening were well worth the time!