Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt

This book represents a comprehensive record of all legal documents pertaining to the Salem witch trials, in chronological order. Numerous manuscripts, as well as records published in earlier books that were overlooked in other editions, offer a comprehensive narrative account of the events of 1692–3, with supplementary materials stretching as far as the mid-18th century. The book can be used as a reference book or read as an unfolding narrative. All legal records are newly transcribed, and included in this edition is a historical introduction, a legal introduction, and a linguistic introduction. Manuscripts are accompanied by notes that, in many cases, identify the person who wrote the record. This has never been attempted, and much is revealed by seeing who wrote what, when.

1. List of facsimile plates; 2. General introduction Bernard Rosenthal; 3. Legal procedures used during the Salem witch trials and a brief history of the published version of the records Richard Trask; 4. Linguistic introduction Peter Grund, Risto Hiltunen, Leena Kahlas-Tarkka, Merja Kytö, Matti Peikola and Matti Rissanen; 5. Editorial principles; 6. Chronological arrangement Bernard Rosenthal and Margo Burns; 7. List of the records of the Salem witch hunt; 8. The records; 9. Timeline: court of Oyer & Terminer and Superior Court of Judicature; 10. Biographical notes Marilynne K. Roach; 11. Works cited; 12. Acknowledgements; 13. Index.

Bernard Rosenthal has written widely on American literature and culture. His monographs include City of Nature and Salem Story, and he has edited published volumes, including an updated edition of The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman, Jr. He is also the author of numerous articles and reviews. Rosenthal has received two grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, one shared with Benjamin Ray, and a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission in support of this book. Rosenthal was also a Fulbright lecturer in 1996–-7 at Tampere University in Finland. Rosenthal edited this volume in collaboration with an international group of ten Associate Editors.