The War on Witchcraft
Andrew Dickson White, George Lincoln Burr, and the Origins of Witchcraft Historiography
Published on 7. July 2021
978-1-108-95693-2 (ISBN)
Description
Historians of the early modern witch-hunt often begin histories of their field with the theories propounded by Margaret Murray and Montague Summers in the 1920s. They overlook the lasting impact of nineteenth-century scholarship, in particular the contributions by two American historians, Andrew Dickson White (1832-1918) and George Lincoln Burr (1857-1938). Study of their work and scholarly personae contributes to our understanding of the deeply embedded popular understanding of the witch-hunt as representing an irrational past in opposition to an enlightened present. Yet the men's relationship with each other, and with witchcraft sceptics - the heroes of their studies - also demonstrates how their writings were part of a larger war against 'unreason'. This Element thus lays bare the ways scholarly masculinity helped shape witchcraft historiography, a field of study often seen as dominated by feminist scholarship. Such meditation on past practice may foster reflection on contemporary models of history writing.
Reviews / Votes
'... Masculinity emerges as an important theme. Machielsen shows that White and Burr both saw history as a story of Great Men, and actively valued masculine characteristics. I hope that this book will be taken up as a contribution to the history of nineteenth-century masculinity.' Julian Goodare, FolkloreMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
File size
1,35 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-108-95693-2 (9781108956932)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Jan Machielsen
The War on Witchcraft
Andrew Dickson White, George Lincoln Burr, and the Origins of Witchcraft Historiography
Book
07/2021
Cambridge University Press
€26.30
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Content
1. 'Ding! Dong! The Witch is Dead'; 2. Two Historians on a Double Date: White and Burr Meet Flade and Loos; 3. History and a Reformer's Project of Reform; 4. The Reformer's Apprentice; 5. Meditations on Masculinity; 6. Reflections.
