Bibliograph

In defense of witches, the legacy of the witch hunts and why women are still on trial, Mona Chollet ; translated [from the French] by Sophie R. Lewis ; foreword by Carmen Maria Machado

Type

Label

In defense of witches, the legacy of the witch hunts and why women are still on trial, Mona Chollet ; translated [from the French] by Sophie R. Lewis ; foreword by Carmen Maria Machado

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

In defense of witches

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

1246145694

Responsibility statement

Mona Chollet ; translated [from the French] by Sophie R. Lewis ; foreword by Carmen Maria Machado

Sub title

the legacy of the witch hunts and why women are still on trial

Summary

"Mona Chollet celebrates the witch as a symbol of female rebellion and independence in the face of misogyny and persecution. Centuries after the infamous witch hunts that swept through Europe and America, witches continue to hold a unique fascination for many: as fairy tale villains, practitioners of pagan religion, as well as feminist icons. Witches are both the ultimate victim and the stubborn, elusive rebel. But who were the women who were accused and often killed for witchcraft? What types of women have centuries of terror censored, eliminated, and repressed? Chollet explores three types of women who were accused of witchcraft and persecuted: the independent woman, since widows and celibates were particularly targeted; the childless woman, since the time of the hunts marked the end of tolerance for those who claimed to control their fertility; and the elderly woman, who has always been an object of at best, pity, and at worst, horror. Examining modern society, Chollet concludes that these women continue to be harassed and oppressed. Rather than being a brief moment in history, the persecution of witches is an example of society's seemingly eternal misogyny, while women today are direct heirs to those who were hunted down and killed for their thoughts and actions. With arguments that range from the scholarly to the cultural, this book seeks to unite the mythic image of the witch with modern women who seek to live their lives on their own terms"--, Provided by the publisher

Table Of Contents

A life of one's own -- Wanting sterility -- The dizzy heights -- Turning the world upside down

resource.variantTitle

Legacy of the witch hunts and why women are still on trial

Classification