Witch Hunt by Kristen Sollée

Between the 15th and 17th centuries, a confluence of political, economic, and religious factors ignited witch hysteria like a wildfire across Europe and later, parts of America. And women were disproportionately punished as a result. At the heart of the witch hunts were dangerous misconceptions about femininity and female sexuality. Today, this lineage of oppression remains an important reference point for all those who contemplate feminism, women’s rights—and human rights—in the Western world and beyond.

Traveling through cities and sites across Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Kristen J. Sollée—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, Sollée (author of Witches, Sluts, Feminists) makes an often-overlooked period of history come alive.

WITCH HUNT isn’t only an exploration of the horrors of this history, but it 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.

This paperback edition includes an updated introduction and a new afterword by the author.

About Kristen

Kristen J. Sollée is the author of three books on the legacy of the witch. A writer, curator, and educator exploring the intersections of art, sex, and culture, Kristen has lectured at George Washington University, the University of Southern California, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and across the United States and Europe.