This facts-only approach limits the potential for sensationalism, so readers looking for titillating details of Satanic circles and animal sacrifices may be disappointed, but the author's temperate and even-handed treatment of both the accused and accusers offers a brief but sympathetic look at Puritan life. Schanzer's latest contribution to the nonfiction field is just that book, and the author easily navigates a large cast of characters and a sea of misinformation as she lays out a straightforward, chronological retelling of the events that focuses squarely on the people who lived it and relies heavily on direct quotes from primary sources.
If you're looking for a starting point to delve into the tragedy of the Salem witch hunts, you can't ask for more than a book that offers up a clear and concise account of the events leading up to and following the trials, provides a host of notes, sources, and further reading, all while maintaining the effortless tone of a seasoned storyteller and accompanied by eye-catching artwork that evokes the menacing terror of the times.
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