--- product_id: 34074879 title: "The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem" price: "$34.37" currency: USD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/34074879-the-witches-suspicion-betrayal-and-hysteria-in-1692-salem store_origin: US region: United States of America --- # The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem **Price:** $34.37 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem - **How much does it cost?** $34.37 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/34074879-the-witches-suspicion-betrayal-and-hysteria-in-1692-salem) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the #1 national bestseller Cleopatra unpacks the mystery of the Salem Witch Trials. “ The Witches is the fullest and finest story ever told about Salem in 1692, and no one else could tell it with the otherworldly flair of Stacy Schiff.” ―Joseph J. Ellis, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Quartet 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 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. “Once again Stacy Schiff dazzles us. The Witches is a must read for anyone intrigued by this baffling and horrifying chapter from America's Puritan past. What Schiff uncovers is mesmerizing and shocking. Her meticulous research and lyrical writing lay bare an injustice that we should never forget-lest we repeat it.” ― Patricia Cornwell, author of True Crime and the Scarpetta novels Review: Excellent History of the Salem Witch Trials - This is a well-reseached , solid, coherent hisory of the Salem Witch Trials. On a subject that can be quite chaotic, Stacy Schief writes in an organized, coherent manner. She manages to convey a wealth of historic information without vering into the dry and academic. It is a subject matter that has a lot of "moving parts". I appreciated the "Cast of Characters" at the beginning of the book that helped me understand who was who, and kept the large cast of characters from becoming overwhelming. I apperciated how meticulous Schief is with the facts without becomming dry ans academic. I really enjoyed her engaging writing style. Her detailed discussion of what brought the trials to an end and rhe ensuing fallout was one of the best I've ever read. I'm a Salem descendant (Bridget Bishop) and I've read a lot of books on the Witch Trials. This is one of the best. Review: Not an Easy Read - A very interesting, but most depressing tale. The mass hysteria, instigated by by teenage girls encouraged by ministers, and followed by children turning on their parents, parents on their children, husbands on their wives, neighbor on neighbor, is incomprehensible, ending in the execution of 19 or 20 citizens, including 5 men and 14 women, with many others dying in the local dungeon that passed as a jail.Many confessed to being witches and were spared. Those that denied were sent to the gallows. If one believes in the devil and witches, it becomes understandable. But even the locals recognized that something was wrong and abruptly the trials stopped after a 9-month inquisition, forever leaving a indelible black mark on our national psyche. I couldn't wait to get through the book of endless trials and warped testimony. It was too unreal. The author presents some modern explanations that may or not be valid. I blame it on religious indoctrination, even though ministers were caught up in the crossfire. It doesn't say much for the Puritan ethic.The book is well researched and documented,but not a joy to read ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #28,250 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #10 in U.S. Colonial Period History #47 in Women in History #54 in U.S. State & Local History | | Customer Reviews | 3.6 out of 5 stars 2,098 Reviews | ## Images ![The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71nty90GbVL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent History of the Salem Witch Trials *by S***Z on January 1, 2026* This is a well-reseached , solid, coherent hisory of the Salem Witch Trials. On a subject that can be quite chaotic, Stacy Schief writes in an organized, coherent manner. She manages to convey a wealth of historic information without vering into the dry and academic. It is a subject matter that has a lot of "moving parts". I appreciated the "Cast of Characters" at the beginning of the book that helped me understand who was who, and kept the large cast of characters from becoming overwhelming. I apperciated how meticulous Schief is with the facts without becomming dry ans academic. I really enjoyed her engaging writing style. Her detailed discussion of what brought the trials to an end and rhe ensuing fallout was one of the best I've ever read. I'm a Salem descendant (Bridget Bishop) and I've read a lot of books on the Witch Trials. This is one of the best. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Not an Easy Read *by W***K on February 5, 2016* A very interesting, but most depressing tale. The mass hysteria, instigated by by teenage girls encouraged by ministers, and followed by children turning on their parents, parents on their children, husbands on their wives, neighbor on neighbor, is incomprehensible, ending in the execution of 19 or 20 citizens, including 5 men and 14 women, with many others dying in the local dungeon that passed as a jail.Many confessed to being witches and were spared. Those that denied were sent to the gallows. If one believes in the devil and witches, it becomes understandable. But even the locals recognized that something was wrong and abruptly the trials stopped after a 9-month inquisition, forever leaving a indelible black mark on our national psyche. I couldn't wait to get through the book of endless trials and warped testimony. It was too unreal. The author presents some modern explanations that may or not be valid. I blame it on religious indoctrination, even though ministers were caught up in the crossfire. It doesn't say much for the Puritan ethic.The book is well researched and documented,but not a joy to read ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Relevant today *by R***N on April 3, 2016* As a direct descendant of one of the men who signed the first legal complaint against the first witch I have read more than a few books about Salem and the witch trials. I rate this book as the best I have read. It is the best because it left me with a more comprehensive understanding of many more of the participants than other books and how this could have happened. This is not a bedtime story. It is not about Wendy the good witch, Sabrina or Samantha Stephens. This is a most frightening book but not because of flying pigs or witches. I was frightened when I read about Rebecca Nurse, an accused witch. She had thirty-nine friends and family sign a petition in her defense. Signing a petition in those days was a very serious matter; it could easily turn against the signer. She was tried and the jury found her not guilty. The justice sent the jury back to reconsider. Again, the jury found her not guilty. The justice sent them back a second time until they got the correct verdict, guilty. An appeal to the governor resulted in a pardon for Rebecca Nurse. She was then indicted again for the same crime by the same judge, found guilty and quickly hanged. The judge benefited from the trials by eventually becoming the governor. All of this happened without the protection of a Bill of Rights or a Constitution. In this book you will read about the afflicted, who became a protected class. It was best not to say anything against the afflicted unless they become offended. Most of the girls being servant girls were relieved of household responsibilities and were supported by the rest of the community. You will also read about the accused citizens who had no defense. If they did protest and claim no offense was made they were declared guilty and often only by association. And who benefited? Those who came running to the defense of the afflicted gained the most; the people who were able to set one class against another. It only came to an end when the people being accused had had enough. All of this makes this book very relevant even today. Think about the continuing clash between rich and the poor; between religions; between races; between citizens and immigrants; and between political parties. All of these were issues in 1692. Today, who are the protected classes, who are the accusers and who are the people running to the rescue and then benefiting? Who benefits from a continued division? Who are the people rising up and saying enough political correctness? Is emotion trumping logic? Are you looking over your shoulder? You should be. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/34074879-the-witches-suspicion-betrayal-and-hysteria-in-1692-salem](https://www.desertcart.us/products/34074879-the-witches-suspicion-betrayal-and-hysteria-in-1692-salem) --- *Product available on Desertcart United States of America* *Store origin: US* *Last updated: 2026-07-22*