
Witch Hunt
A Traveler's Guide to the Power and Persecution of the Witch
Hardcover | 12 October 2020
At a Glance
New Edition
Hardcover
RRP $44.99
$38.90
14%OFF
Aims to ship in 5 to 10 business days
When will this arrive by?
Enter delivery postcode to estimate
A transcendent travelogue with a wickedly delicious, feminist twist,” writes Pam Grossman (author of Waking the Witch)—Witch Hunt is a captivating guide to the historic witch hunts and how their legacy continues to impact us today.
Traveling through cities and sites across Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Kristen J. Sollée—a second-generation witch herself—explores the witch as a figure of female power and persecution. By infusing an adventurous first-person narrative with extensive research and imaginative historical fiction, Witch Hunt captures the magic of travel to make an often-overlooked period of history come alive.
Between the 15th-17th centuries, a confluence of political, economic, and religious factors inspired witch hysteria to ignite like wildfire across Europe, and, later, parts of America. At the heart of the witch hunts were often dangerous misconceptions about femininity and female sexuality, and women were disproportionately punished as a result. Today, this lineage of oppression remains an important reference point through which we can contemplate women’s rights—and human rights—in the Western world and beyond.
Witch Hunt isn’t only an exploration of the horrors of history, but also uncovers how the archetype of the witch has been rehabilitated. For witches are not just haunting figures of the past; the witch is also a liberatory icon and identity of the present.
About the Author
Kristen J. Sollée is a writer, curator, and educator exploring the intersections of art, sex, and occulture. She is the founding editrix of Slutist, a sex positive feminist website, and lectures at The New School and across the US and Europe. Sollée’s signature college course, "The Legacy of the Witch" follows the witch through history, pop culture, and politics. Her critically-acclaimed book inspired by the course, Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive, was published in 2017.
Industry Reviews
--Amanda Yates Garcia, author of Initiated: Memoir of a Witch and host of the Between the Worlds podcast
"Kristen Sollee (author of Witches, Sluts, Feminists) explores the archetype of the witch in this entertaining mix of travel guide, journal, and ghost story collection. Highlights include an examination of the divination culture of Italy, including the tarot-dedicated Museo dei Tarocchi in Bologna, and of England's occultism, including the Chelsea Physic Garden in London, where "the occult is inseparable from the landscape." Historical figures such as Joan of Arc in France and Dame Alice in Ireland are recast both as early examples of gender-fluidity and powerful women who were killed by fearful men. These and other historic women are featured in fictionalized "visions" that overcome Sollee, and work as a narrative device in which the dead impart knowledge of their craft and details of their often violent fates. While the author admits these scenes are fantastical, they nicely round out and give context to the catalogue of sites visited."--Publishers Weekly
"Witch Hunt is a transcendent travelogue with a wickedly delicious, feminist twist. Sollee writes with a deep respect for those whose lives were lost in the name of witchcraft, and a wide, wild love for those of us who see the modern resurgence of the witch as a signpost for a better, freer future. In doing so, our intrepid tour guide proves once again that infusing rigorous historical research with an unfettered, generous spirit creates a magic potion indeed. This book exceeded my sky-high hopes, and has quickly flown to the top of my list of bewitching favorites."--Pam Grossman, author of Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power and host of The Witch Wave podcast
"Kristen Sollee has written an expansive, transformative and empowering book that every witch needs on their bookshelf. In Witch Hunt, Kristen ushers readers through winding cobblestones of magick and mystery, offering glimpses of the often overlooked legacy of the witch. Dripping with relevant historical insights and written with a beautiful and compassionate command of language, Kristen shares the history of the witch, her magick and persecution with reverence, respect and so much love. This book will transport you to distant lands where the witch once danced, and with Kristen as your guide, you can come to understand the witch and her world in a way that feels personal and inviting. By tracing the many paths of the witch, Kristen invites readers to create their own. This book is like nothing else, and is a must read for any witch."--Gabriela Herstik, author of Bewitching the Elements: A Guide to Empowering Yourself Through Earth, Air, Fire and Spirit and Inner Witch: A Modern Guide to the Ancient Craft
"Sollee powerfully brings history to life through robust research and visceral visits to the lands of the witch hunts. Her on-foot and scholarly searching makes this book a page turner, sensitively reckoning the contemporary celebration of witchiness with the reality of a horrific past. It is an uneasy and often painful journey, but also one of insight and even beauty. Witch Hunt is a necessary addition to the new canon of works making sense of the witch."--Taisia Kitaiskaia, author of Literary Witches and Ask Baba Yaga
ISBN: 9781578636990
ISBN-10: 157863699X
Published: 12th October 2020
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Number of Pages: 256
Audience: General Adult
Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser
Country of Publication: US
Dimensions (cm): 15.9 x 22.3 x 2.4
Weight (kg): 0.51
Shipping
Standard Shipping | Express Shipping | |
---|---|---|
Metro postcodes: | $9.99 | $14.95 |
Regional postcodes: | $9.99 | $14.95 |
Rural postcodes: | $9.99 | $14.95 |
How to return your order
At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.
Additional postage charges may be applicable.
Defective items
If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.
For more info please visit our Help Centre.