The Witches

Salem, 1692

By: Stacy Schiff

Narrated by: Eliza Foss

Length: 18 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Cleopatra, the number one national best seller, unpacks the mystery of the Salem Witch Trials. It began in 1692, over an exceptionally raw Massachusetts winter, when a minister's daughter began to scream and convulse. It ended less than a year later, but not before 19 men and women had been hanged and an elderly man crushed to death.

The panic spread quickly, involving the most educated men and prominent politicians in the colony. Neighbors accused neighbors, parents and children accused each other. Aside from suffrage, the Salem Witch Trials represent the only moment when women played the central role in American history. In curious ways, the trials would shape the future republic.

As psychologically thrilling as it is historically seminal, The Witches is Stacy Schiff's account of this fantastical story - the first great American mystery unveiled fully for the first time by one of our most acclaimed historians.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2015 Stacy Schiff (P)2015 Hachette Audio

Really annoying narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Eliza Foss's reading makes me feel like I'm at a kindergarten story hour. I'm 3 hours in and just hating it.

The narrator is ruining this book

Any additional comments?

I am just an hour and a half into this book and am not sure I can continue. The narrator sounds as if she is reading for a part in a high school play. It is so distracting I am having difficulty listening to what is happening in the book.

Excellently Detailed!

This dark time in U.S. history has always been of interest to me. The author, and narrator, have the unique ability of bringing the past to life, in this extraordinary novel!

I do love the details, however, which may seem a nuisance to others. The whole story is in the details.

I was emotionally wrecked and angered by the people too afraid to stop the madness, and absolutely full of hatred for those who manipulated the situation. Every side of humanity was brought to light, and I was hooked the entire time.

The narrative was superb, as was the novel. I definitely recommend to lovers of this particular subject, and those looking for an in-depth historical novel.

Narration drove me away

I will have to read this in paper as the narrator drove me away from this audiobook.

Wordy

Enjoyed the book but I thought it was incredibly wordy. The reader had a tone in her voice that I didn't like. She sounded sarcastic or bratty.

Fact or fiction

This book is very confusing to listen to. The author starts by saying its a true account of facts and the whole affair was mislead beliefs. Then spins into testimonies of witchcraft told as if they happened. Is this nonfiction or fiction? I'm confused.

Wit and Witches

Being in the field of history (especially in my field of art history) can mean a endless parade of wooden and tedious books, papers, and essays. It is a true talent to make history exciting. Stacy Schiff has that precise talent. Her book, Witches, is replete with not only horror at the events, but also a sense of wit and humor amongst the gravitas of the situation. She returns to the witch trials of Salem both their cultural magic and their realism, a balance that's hard to conjure when so many others have failed at such a task. Her footnotes brilliantly elucidate the text further and create comparisons to our culture through interjections of contemporary statements and cultural ideas. All of this, while making Puritan writing exceptionally readable and enjoyable. Again, an magnificent talent at work to transform the often frustratingly obtuse words of Puritans into high drama.

Sometimes history must take a side, and Schiff does that. Though we are not sure which side she's on. She does not indulge the court or the people of Salem in their mischief. What she brilliant does do is disallows these predispositions to interfere with the truth and she grants at least understanding to those individuals.

If you love a good dose of sarcasm, well written history, and a fascinating story, this book is worthy of a listen. It reveals many mysteries and ideas, and also revels in the story's own absurdity. Also a shout out is owed to the narrator whose inflections and tonal shifts were absolutely masterful.

Not interesting

What disappointed you about The Witches?

The author wrote too poetically. I don't know if she even understood what she was saying. She must have used a thesaurus for every word. Maybe I'm just unsophisticated and it was over my head. I am not interested in reading with a dictionary by my side just to hear her vague ideas about what people's frames of mind back then without ever actually saying anything. It would have been more interesting to actually hear a story about an event rather than her just trying to give you an idea for the feel of what was going on during that period. Reminded me of the Shack. Too many adjectives - get to the point. What are you trying to SAY? Not my kind of book. I like stories about history, women's rights, how our country was formed. This was not good. I'd rather read Ronald Reagan "The Life."

What could Stacy Schiff have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I don't like this style of writing. Personal preference. I would never suggest that someone change their writing style; it's just not for me. I find it like listening to a fish tale that never ends.

What aspect of Eliza Foss’s performance would you have changed?

I only listened to the first 29 minutes. I gave it a chance. That's all the time I was willing to invest.

Hard to listen to

What would have made The Witches better?

A different reader and a different writing approach

Would you ever listen to anything by Stacy Schiff again?

This is the first book of hers I have listened to. Perhaps "Vera" is written in a more straightforward way. In that case, I might give it a try. I will certainly categorically avoid any performances by the saccharine reader, Eliza Foss.

How could the performance have been better?

A different reader might have helped me stay with it longer, but the book's confusing writing style would have defeated me anyway.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger. At the reader, the author and the waste of money, and at myself for not reading reviews before buying it.

Any additional comments?

Thanks for allowing readers the chance to vent.

Enjoyed

narrator was great. excellent historic detective work. enjoyed immensely. highly recommend to anyone who has the slightest interest in this subject.