Host rich fahle talks with stacy schiff about her book, the witches. Author interview stacy schiff, author of the witches. The witches, schiff s glib, compendious and often maddening account of the events of that fateful year, does a great deal to punch up the story, but little to explore and still less to understand. Cleareyed and sympathetic, schiff makes the complex seem simple, crafting a taut narrative that takes in religion, politics, folklore, and the intricate texture of daily life in massachusetts bay, with particular. Myles will lead our book club discussion on the witches. As psychologically thrilling as it is historically seminal, the witches is stacy schiffs account of this fantastical storythe first great american mystery unveiled fully for the first time by one of our most acclaimed historians. Ellis pulitzer prizewinning author of the quartet schiff sets scenes brilliantly, evoking the bite of cold so deep that bread froze in communion plates, ink in pens, sap in the fireplace. Named a 2011 library lion by the new york public library, she lives in new york city. But reading stacy schiffs new book about the 1692 salem witch trials, it doesnt seem that far afield from the stubborn, villainous rationalizations. Few writers combine as she does superb scholarship and an exceptional gift for language with amazing reach and agility of. The salem witch trials offer stacy schiff an outsized drama that seized americans imaginations more than 300 years ago.
By buzzy jackson globe correspondent, october 24, 2015, 6. I wont finish listening to it, as i dont want the audiobook to ruin the book for me. Pulitzerwinning writer stacy schiffs new book, the witches, doesnt come out until october, but her publisher, little, brown, is already celebrating her fresh take on the salem witch. Its tempting to use historian stacy schiffs revelatory, sumptuously written new book, the witches. It ended less than a year later, but not before 19 men and women had been hanged and an elderly man. Salem 1692 by stacy schiff 2015, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay.
In some respects, the events that unfold in schiffs book. It began in 1692, over an exceptionally raw massachusetts winter, when a ministers daughter began to scream and convulse. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Stacy schiffs salem history fails to untangle all the. Well, folks, it took me twice as long as i expected but i did it. She has produced a nearly 500page history that feels uncannily like a slightly overstuffed biography, in which even the most theatrical plot points are treated as plain, hard facts to be marshaled and accounted for in a rigorous. As he could not be declared guilty of witchcraft, he was excommunicated as a suicide, stacy schiff writes in the witches. In pulitzer prizewinning author stacy schiffs new book, the witches. In the witches, schiff is an industrious schoolmarm. The witches salem, 1692 by schiff, stacy and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I found the beginning half of this book to be very interesting, especially since theres frequent mention of the contentiousness of the young teenage and preteen girls in salem, 1692 in the court records as accusers and as suspects.
A pulitzer prizewinner, stacy schiff is the author most recently of the witches. Salem, 1692, which the new york times hailed as an almost novelistic, thrillerlike narrative. Pulitzer prizewinner stacy schiffs straightforward account of the witch trials is meticulously documented but very. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In curious ways, the trials would shape the future republic. It sounds too cutesy, like everything is an inside joke, not like a a nonfiction book at all. The witches by stacy schiff, 9781474602266, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. At its best, the latest work from schiff cleopatra. The panic began early in 1692, over an exceptionally raw massachusetts winter, when a ministers niece began to writhe and. Stacy madeleine schiff born october 26, 1961 is an american nonfiction author residing in new york.
Stacy schiffs the witches is an indelibly etched morality fable, the best recounting of the salem hysteria in modern times. Discussion questions for stacy schiffs the witches 1. The witches does redeem itself toward the end, with schiffs handling of what few seem to realize was the most remarkable aspect of the salem witch trials. Stacy schiff, author official website the witches now. The pulitzer prizewinning biographer provides an account of a foundational american tragedy of mass hysteria and injustice. Salem, 1692 kindle edition by stacy schiff author visit amazons stacy schiff page. In the village ministers house, two little girls crawled under the furniture, made silly noises, spread their. The population of new england in 1692 would fit into yankee stadium today, stacy schiff.
Mass hysteria surrounding the notorious witchtrials at salem is vividly recreated but the question of. In the witches, stacy schiff evokes what everyday life was like for the puritans of massachusetts. Stacy schiff schiff has received fellowships from the guggenheim foundation and the national endowment for the humanities and an award in literature from the american academy of arts and letters. Salem, 1692 by stacy schiff little, brown i t began among children. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the witches. The witches by stacy schiff benjamin franklin house. Salem, 1692 by stacy schiff free mobi epub ebooks download. It ended less than a year later, but not before 19 men and. In the witches, the american historian stacy schiff has found a way brilliantly to recreate this strange and fascinating story as it unfolded at the time. In 1692, writes stacy schiff in her penetrating new book on the salem witch trials, new englanders lived very much in the dark. Seven stars from a period of time so fraught with scandal and religious ferocity, stacy schiff is able to construct a powerful and wellpaced book that offers readers insight into the salem witch trials of 1692. Cleareyed and sympathetic, schiff makes the complex seem simple, crafting a taut narrative that takes in religion, politics, folklore, and the intricate texture of daily life in massachusetts bay, with particular attention to those wonderworking women and girls who chose this moment to blow apart the puritan utopia theyd helped to found.
Stacy schiffs the witches is a nimbly woven tapestry the. Ellis, pulitzer prizewinning author of the quartet stacy schiff has beautifully combined remarkable story telling with historical accuracy and insight. History in the hands of stacy schiff is invariably full of life, light, shadow, surprise, clarity of insight, and so it is again and then some in her latest work, the witches. Pulitzer prizewinning historian stacy schiffs the witches tells the spinechilling tale of bloodthirsty spirits that still haunt american. Schiffs account of these terrors reads like a nerveshredding psychological thriller mail on sunday best of 2015 stacy schiffs the witches deals with a horror we assume we know, but dont. It began in 1692, over an exceptionally raw massachusetts. This book needs a seat belt kathryn harrison author of joan of arc 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. 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. A life, 2010 informs us that americas puritan forefathers. Suspicion, betrayal, and hysteria in 1692 salem by stacy schiff at indigo. A life applies her descriptive prowess and flair for the dramatic to the salem witch trials. Salem, 1692 steps back from more than three centuries of hyperbole and supposition, giving us our most complete account yet. Suspicion, betrayal, and hysteria in 1692 salem on friday july 20 at 10am.
Now in paperback history in the hands of stacy schiff is invariably full of life, light, shadow, surprise, clarity of insight, and so it is again and then some in her latest work, the witches. Stacy schiff, author of the witches, a brilliant, exceptionally wellresearched account of the 1692 salem witch trials, says her number one requirement when writing her prizewinning nonfiction books is a big desk, an enormous desk. Few writers combine as she does superb scholarship and an exceptional gift for language with amazing reach and agility of mind. See all 17 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Stacy schiffs the witches is an intoxicating brew of. As schiff points out early in the book, the puritans of salem village were often assiduous diarists and recordkeepers, but firsthand accounts of. David mccullough declared the book brilliant from start to finish. The book is packed with details and delivered with a punch, bu. Salem,1692, as yet another occasion to apply american historys favorite metaphor. Salem, 1692, the murky depths of that horrifying year are probed deeply and with exceptional care, building a rich.
I finished this 500page history of the salem witch trialsa topic it turns out i knew pretty much nothing about. The witches by stacy schiff i think i would like this book, but i do not like the audiobook. Joseph ellis deemed schiffs the finest account to date of the witch trials. Admitting from the outset that much of the stereotypical views of witchestheir pointy hats, bubbling cauldrons, warty chins, and. Stacy schiff celebrates new book, witches the boston globe. Schiff, born in adams, massachusetts, is a graduate of phillips academy andover preparatory school, and earned her b. The panic began early in 1692, over an exceptionally raw massachusetts winter, when a ministers niece began to writhe and roar. To set the scene for her immensely droll explication of the salem witch trials, pulitzer prizewinning author stacy schiff cleopatra. Youre synthesizing massive amounts of raw material, she.
Salem, 1692 by stacy schiff is obviously a very well researched book. Salem witch trials cast their spell on a new generation of dramatists. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the witches. As schiff points out early in the book, the puritans of salem village were often assiduous diarists and recordkeepers. As psychologically thrilling as it is historically seminal, the witches is stacy schiffs account of this fantastical story the first great american mystery unveiled fully for the first time by.
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