In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, thousands of women confessed to being witches and were put to death. This book is a gripping account of the pursuit, interrogation, torture, and burning of witches, particularly in Germany, as well as a deeper exploration of the psychology of witch-hunting in modern culture.

"[A] brilliant piece of investigative history."--"The Guardian

""This ambitious and subtle book is testament not only to Roper's skill in excavating stories from the German archives, but also to her imagination and determination in reading between the lines of examinations and confessions. . . . Compelling, courageous and inspirational."--Malcolm Gaskill, "Journal of the Historical Association"