A Delusion of Satan

The Full Story of the Salem Witch Trials

By: Frances Hill

Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon

During the bleak winter of 1692 in the rigid Puritan community of Salem Village, Massachusetts, a group of young girls began experiencing violent fits, allegedly tormented by Satan and the witches who worshipped him. From the girls' initial denouncing of an Indian slave, the accusations soon multiplied. In less than two years, 19 men and women were hanged, one was pressed to death, and over a hundred others were imprisoned and impoverished.

This evenhanded and now-classic history illuminates the horrifying episode with visceral clarity, from the opportunistic Putnam clan, who fanned the crisis to satisfy personal vendettas and greed, to four-year-old "witch" Dorcas Good, who was chained to a dank prison wall in darkness till she went mad. By placing the distant period of the Salem witch trials in the larger context of more contemporary eruptions of mass hysteria and intolerance, the author has created a work as thought-provoking as it is emotionally powerful.

©1995 Frances Hill (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Hill reminds us that 'witch-hunts are still with us'." ( Booklist)

Just awesome

Frances Hill is a great digger. Comprehensive, thorough introduction to the Salem Witch Trials…5 out of 5 and shoutout to Wanda McFadden for the spirited reading.

Exploration not only of events but reasons behind

While not as "exciting" or easy reading as The Crucible, the exploration of political, personal, and religious factors which led to this travesty of justice is suburb, and interesting. Rather than cast the hysterical girls as willful liars (although many may have been), the text here exposes the politics and personal grudges of the supporting adults around them.
At the end we also hear of the aftermath of the accusations on those involved in the trials.
While parts are quite heartbreaking to listen to, the message of how easily even well meaning persons can be led astray is sobering.
The excellant reading of the text makes a heavy subject much easier to continue with.
You may find the prologue stage boring- however it will give context which is indispensible later. Take a break, read something lighter, and return to it.

Engaging history

Aside from unwarranted speculations, such as the possible suicide of the Putnams, this seems to be a well researched history with a lot of detail I wish had been included in the discussions which were part of my youthful history classes.

An Okay Read

This book was written well. The only thing that was hard to follow was all the names within the story. If you do have an interest in the Salem Trials, I would recommend this book.

very detailed and well narrated

So much information, so little time. This book covers the trials very well. I definitely would love to visit Salem and see for myself the history.

Interesting listen

Listened to this after watching The Witch. Recommended if you're interested in Salem witch trials.

Best book on Salem Witch Trials

This is by far the best book on this subject I have ever read. Written extremely well, details about the accused, accusers and judges are extensive, and new ideas and theories that hadn’t been presented before. Highly recommended.

Also the narration is awesome as well.

Good book

comprehensive telling of the event that changed a Massachusetts town into a spiritual mecca. exceptional

Ugh

This reading was just about the driest presentation of a scandalous event imaginable. I found the narrator's voice intrusively distracting also. I finished it through sheer stubbornness.

A new take on the Witch Trials

Would you listen to A Delusion of Satan again? Why?

Absolutely. In fact, I have had to listen to parts more closely a second time since I was driving while listening and needed to pay more attention.

What did you like best about this story?

I really enjoyed the different lens that Ms. Hill looks through to see the Witch Trials. Instead of looking at the more salacious details or the religious aspect, Ms Hill looks at the Witch Trials through the political and sociological values and events at the time. Ms. Hill is an historian, and her attention to detail comes through. I was fascinated throughout.

Which scene was your favorite?

I particularly enjoyed the wry descriptions of the girl's behavior during the trials.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Don't blame the Devil, Blame the Putnams

Any additional comments?

The narrator was wonderful, articulating clearly and at a good pace.