Salem 1692 by stacy schiff 2015, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Its tempting to use historian stacy schiff s revelatory, sumptuously written new book, the witches. You may think you know all about the infamous salem witch trials, but after just a few atmospheric, meticulously researched pages of pulitzer prizewinning historian stacy schiffs book, youll realize youve been kidding yourself. Stacy schiff is a pulitzer prizewinning american nonfiction author. Salem, 1692 steps back from more than three centuries of hyperbole and supposition, giving us our most complete account yet. With meager historical help, schiff pulls together the threads of salems story and provides an intelligible timeline of events and roster of participants. Ellis, pulitzer prizewinning author of the quartet stacy schiff has beautifully combined remarkable story telling with historical accuracy and insight. Mpr news kerri miller talks with historian stacy schiff, author of the witches. Schiff has received fellowships from the guggenheim foundation and the national endowment for the humanities. Perhaps unfairly, the witches also suffers for its narrative integrity. As schiff points out early in the book, the puritans of salem village were often assiduous diarists and recordkeepers, but firsthand accounts of. Ellis pulitzer prizewinning author of the quartet from cleopatra to the salem coven.
A pulitzer prizewinner, stacy schiff is the author most recently of the witches. Schiff s account of these terrors reads like a nerveshredding psychological thriller mail on sunday best of 2015 once again stacy schiff dazzles us. James i and the english witch hunts by tracy borman. The first source that will be evaluated in depth is stacy schiffs book the witches. The early 1690s were years of considerable anxiety in the new england colonies that were faced with spectral threats and actual threats from native americans and from without by a resurgent english state for whom colonies were not merely political. Schiffs account of these terrors reads like a nerveshredding psychological thriller mail on sunday best of 2015 once again stacy schiff dazzles us. Salem, 1692 by stacy schiff is obviously a very well researched book. Historian stacy schiffs latest book, the witches, documents what is known about the victims, the accusers, the judges, the jailers, the witnesses and the entire community. 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.
Oct 22, 2015 stacy schiffs book on the trial and the aftermath is compulsively readable. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The latest to attempt it is stacy schiff, winner of the pulitzer prize and a purveyor of the sort of sleek, highend narrative. A life, winner of the penjacqueline bograd weld award for biography. Oct 30, 2015 in her new book stacy schiff notes a number of famous people who were descendants of figures involved in the salem witch trials of 1692. The book proceeds chronologically, with schiff reserving all but the most glancing analysis for the book. This book, well researched and documented is packed with insight and information for the history lover. Oct 22, 2015 stacy schiff, one of our most versatile and nimble writers, boldly ventures into disparate centuries and milieus to bring back tales that illuminate and instruct. Stacy schiff books list of books by author stacy schiff. Salem, 1692 is a prime candidate for scariest book of the year author of. Miraculously, after reading schiff s the witches i think i can say that i have. Salem,1692, as yet another occasion to apply american historys favorite metaphor. Stacy schiffs book on the trial and the aftermath is compulsively readable.
Born in adams, massachusetts, schiff attended phillips andover academy preparatory school and went on to earn her b. With the witches, schiff, a pulitzer prize winning historian and author, most. The origin of this source is indeed valuable because schiff is a wellknown historian. For continued access to the public historian content as it publishes. Pulitzer prizewinning historian stacy schiffs the witches tells the spinechilling tale of bloodthirsty spirits that still haunt american. The early 1690s were years of considerable anxiety in the new england colonies that were faced with spectral threats and actual threats from native americans and from without by a resurgent english state for whom colonies were not merely political adjuncts but economic.
Mass hysteria surrounding the notorious witchtrials at salem is vividly recreated but the question of. I fell in love with the pulitzer prizewinning historian stacy schiff within the first few pages of. All of schiff s books demonstrate her rigor as a historian and her dexterity as a stylist. David mccullough declared the book brilliant from start to finish. Moreover, she has mastered the entire history of early new england from. 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. Historian stacy schiff on the salem witch trials whyy. Salem, 1692 about this book buy online an oppressive, forensic, psychological thriller. It was utterly unlike any other history book i have ever read, to my great surprise and delight. She has received fellowships from the guggenheim foundation and the national endowment for the humanities, and was a directors fellow at the center for scholars and writers at the new york public library. With her new book, the witches, stacy schiff seems to have wanted to strip away the metaphors and go back to the original story of salem. The witches, schiffs glib, compendious and often maddening account of the events of that fateful year, does a.
From intelligent rule to hysteria, mayhem, and murder. Nov 02, 2015 pulitzer prizewinning author and historian stacy schiff uses historical research to unpack the events surrounding the salem witch trials in her new book the witches. Joseph ellis deemed schiff s the finest account to date of the witch trials. Readers who appreciated this book might also enjoy witches. The witches by stacy schiff used good 9781474602266. Historian stacy schiff s latest book, the witches, documents what is known about the victims, the accusers, the judges, the jailers, the witnesses and the entire community. Miraculously, after reading schiffs the witches i think i can say that i have. Salem,1692, as yet another occasion to apply american history s favorite metaphor.
Stacy schiff, author official website the witches now. Suspicion, betrayal, and hysteria in 1692 salem schiff, stacy on. Its tempting to use historian stacy schiffs revelatory, sumptuously written new book, the witches. Nov, 2015 with her new book, the witches, stacy schiff seems to have wanted to strip away the metaphors and go back to the original story of salem. Salem, 1692 pulitizer prizewinning author stacy schiffs last book was a bestseller about cleopatra. 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. Stacy schiffs the witches is an intoxicating brew of. The salem witch trials offer stacy schiff an outsized drama that seized americans imaginations more than 300 years ago. The witches, schiffs glib, compendious and often maddening account of the. The book crackles with sonic detail, from the pitiful sound of giles. Franklin, france, and the birth of america, winner of the george washington book prize and the ambassador book award.
Salem 1692 outlines the 9month period in salem, massachusetts that left 19 men and women hanged for witchcraft. Feb 07, 2016 with meager historical help, schiff pulls together the threads of salems story and provides an intelligible timeline of events and roster of participants. Rowling meets antony beevor, stephen king, and marina warner. Schiff has received fellowships from the guggenheim foundation and the national endowment for the humanities and an award in.
The witches is a must read for anyone intrigued by this baffling and horrifying chapter from americas puritan past. In fact, i stayed up much of last night reading the book. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals. The pulitzer prizewinning biographer provides an account of a foundational american tragedy of mass hysteria and injustice. For continued access to the public historian content as it publishes, become a member of the national council on public history, or recommend the public historian to your institutions library. The witches by stacy schiff orion bringing you news from. Oct 20, 2016 from intelligent rule to hysteria, mayhem, and murder. Salem, 1692 stacy schiff, 2015 little, brown and co. 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. Born in adams, massachusetts, schiff attended phillips andover academy preparatory school and went on to.
Franklin, france, and the birth of america, winner of the george washington book prize. All of schiffs books demonstrate her rigor as a historian and her dexterity as a stylist. The witches by stacy schiff meet your next favorite book. Nov 05, 2015 pulitzer prizewinning historian stacy schiff s the witches tells the spinechilling tale of bloodthirsty spirits that still haunt american soil today. Stacy schiff s the witches is an indelibly etched morality fable, the best recounting of the salem hysteria in modern times. In some respects, the events that unfold in schiffs book are more. Stacy schiffs the witches is an intoxicating brew of history. The popular historian of the witch trials has a much tougher job.
In the witches, the american historian stacy schiff has found a way. It ended less than a year later, but not before 19 men and women had been hanged and an elderly man crushed to death. Honestly this book was so magical that if we lived in 1692 i think stacy schiff would be hanged as a witch. Vladimir nabokov, which won the 2000 pulitzer prize for biography.
It began in 1692, over an exceptionally raw massachusetts. Historians, like terriers, are diggers, but salem offers stony soil for discovery. Schiff gives voice to the mostly women and few men who were convicted and executed and explores how religious fervor and desperation can lead families, neighbors and. History in the hands of stacy schiff is invariably full of life, light, shadow, surprise. With the witches, schiff, a pulitzer prize winning historian and author, most recently, of cleopatra, draws on a huge body of scholarship as well as primary sources to synthesize. Pulitzer prizewinning author and historian stacy schiff uses historical research to unpack the events surrounding the salem witch trials in her new book the witches.
Dec 28, 2015 pulitzer prizewinning author and historian stacy schiff uses historical research to unpack the events surrounding the salem witch trials in her new book the witches. Nov 01, 2015 its tempting to use historian stacy schiff s revelatory, sumptuously written new book, the witches. Salem, 1692, which the new york times hailed as an almost novelistic, thrillerlike narrative. Dec 31, 2015 mpr news kerri miller talks with historian stacy schiff, author of the witches.
Stacy madeleine schiff born october 26, 1961 is an american former editor, essayist, and author of five biographies. Author bio birthoctober 26, 1961 whereadams, massachusetts, usa educationb. Stacy schiff is the author of a great improvisation and vera mrs. Stacy madeleine schiff born october 26, 1961 is an american nonfiction author residing in new york. Just in time for halloween, stacy schiffs mesmerizing the witches. Salem, 1692, about her book, and the themes that are relevant today on november 10, 2015 at the fitzgerald.
Schiff, born in adams, massachusetts, is a graduate of phillips academy andover preparatory school, and earned her b. Witches schiff litlovers book club recommendations. Ellis, pulitzer prizewinning author of the quartet. The witches is a lyrical and absolutely riveting portrait of one of early americas darkest chapters.
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