Witch Hunt

A Traveler's Guide to the Power and Persecution of the Witch

By: Kristen J. Sollee

Narrated by: Amy McFadden

Traveling through cities and sites across Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Kristen J. Sollee - 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.

©2020 Kristen J. Sollée (P)2020 Tantor

Bewitching! Loved it!

We journey through Europe, the UK, and colonial America in this book. The author weaves grim history along with notes of beautiful and enchanting landscapes and architecture. It feels like you're listening to a friend tell a really good story of their travels and observations at the same time you are learning history. It can be uncomfortable and difficult to see how themes of other othering and scapegoating can repeat, but it is a lesson of which the author reminds us. Whether or not any of the countless women and some men who were called witches actually practiced spellwork is less of the point here. It was very enjoyable to listen to and makes me want to visit these locations that Kristen Sollee wrote aboit in such beautiful detail.