The Witchcraft Delusion In New England; Its Rise, Progress, And Termination, As Exhibited By Dr. Cotton Mather In The Wonders Of The Invisible World, And By Mr. Robert Calef In His More Wonders Of The

Salem’s panic was not a myth. Fear made neighbours into enemies. In this second volume of Samuel Gardner Drake’s historical nonfiction classic, the arguments that shaped the Salem witch trials are set side by side: Dr Cotton Mather’s Wonders of the Invisible World and Robert Calef’s More Wonders of the Invisible World. Read together, they expose how witchcraft accusations and hysteria gained authority, how doubts were voiced, and how the ’delusion’ finally began to break. The result is a vivid record of belief under pressure, and of a society discovering how quickly certainty can curdle.Part primary source history collection, part penetrating guide to colonial New England history, Drake’s work helps modern readers hear the clash between puritan religion and superstition and the emerging demand for evidence. For American history students and colonial studies researchers, it is a sharp lens on 17th century Massachusetts, courtroom culture, and the politics of belief; for general readers, it is gripping human history, told through the very voices that fought over it. It remains essential for anyone following Cotton Mather writings and the wider legacy of the trials in colonial New England history. Historically, this dispute between defenders and critics of the trials marks a turning point in colonial print culture and public accountability.Out of print for decades and now republished by Alpha Editions. Restored for today’s and future generations. More than a reprint - a collector’s item and a cultural treasure: a classic reprint edition for serious shelves and curious hands alike.