{"product_id":"witches","title":"Witches","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWitches\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA King's Obsession\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- Access Your Content --\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 2px solid #ddd; padding: 16px; border-radius: 6px; background: #f9f9f9; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAccess Your Content in Seconds\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComplete your purchase on our store.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (free).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLog in using the same email from checkout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #555;\"\u003eAll content is securely delivered through our app and not offered as a Shopify download.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWitches – whether broomstick-riding spell-casters or Wiccan earth-worshippers – have been culturally relevant for centuries. For centuries, too, belief in the potency of witchcraft has been debated, accused witches have been hunted and punished, and film and TV productions have brought the witch and the witch-hunter to big and small screens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut where did our perception of witches – good and bad – come from? What motivated wide-scale panics about witchcraft during certain periods? How were alleged witches identified, accused, and variously tortured and punished?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSteven Veerapen traces witches, witchcraft, and witch-hunters from the explosion of mass-trials under King James VI and I in the late sixteenth century to the death of the witch-hunting phenomenon in the early eighteenth century. Based on documents and the latest historical research, he explores what motivated widespread belief in demonic witchcraft throughout Britain as well as in continental Europe, what caused mass panics about alleged witches, and what led, ultimately, to the relegation of the witch – and the witch-hunter – to the realm of fantasy and the fringes of society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy You'll Love This Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiscover witches – whether broomstick-riding spell-casters or Wiccan earth-worshippers – have been culturally relevant for centuries\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExplore for centuries, too, belief in the potency of witchcraft has been debated, accused witches have been hunted and punished, and film and TV productions have brought the witch and the witch-hunter to big and small screens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGain expertise in Scottish History and history of persecution\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLearn from proven expertise and experience\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReviews\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e'An insightful, brilliant account of a dark chapter in history — bone-chilling and compelling' - Gareth Russell, author of Queen James \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e'This judicious study gives the story an overdue subtlety — a nuanced understanding of James VI's preoccupation with witches and witchcraft' - The Scotsman \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e'With his trademark brio and imagination, Veerapen tells the story through the most prominent trials' - Herald \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Superbly researched — engaging, fascinating, and compelling' - Undiscovered Scotland \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A fascinating read for anyone interested in early modern history, witch hunts, or the rationale behind the irrational' - Books from Scotland, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBookseller Books of the Year\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteven Veerapen\u003c\/strong\u003e was born in Glasgow to a Scottish mother and a Mauritian father and raised in Paisley. Pursuing an interest in the sixteenth century, he was awarded a first-class Honours degree in English, focussing his dissertation on representations of Henry VIII’s six wives. He is the author of \u003cem\u003eThe Wisest Fool: The Lavish Life of James VI and I\u003c\/em\u003e, and lives in Glasgow. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN (EPUB):\u003c\/strong\u003e 9781788857871\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 04 September 2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 336\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ebook (EPUB)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Birlinn\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I access my ebook?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/a\u003e and log in using the same email you used at checkout. Your ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I read it online?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can also access your purchases via our online reader at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reader.thegreyhill.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ereader.thegreyhill.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eI can't see my ebook — what should I do?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTap the refresh button in the app or online reader. If it still doesn't appear, ensure you're logged in with the same email used at checkout. If issues continue, contact us and we'll help right away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I gift this ebook?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can purchase a Grey Hill Gift Card here: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/the-grey-hill-gift-card\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBuy a Gift Card\u003c\/a\u003e. The recipient can redeem it on our store, and the ebook will appear in The Grey Hill App.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Birlinn Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57249931297141,"sku":"9781788857871","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/5662\/5269\/files\/9781788857871.jpg?v=1780577681","url":"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/witches","provider":"The Grey Hill","version":"1.0","type":"link"}