Witch Hunt: A Traveler’s Journey into the Power and Persecution of the Witch

“An expansive, transformative, and empowering book [that] shares the history of the witch, her magick, and persecution with reverence and respect . . . You will come to understand the witch and her world in a way that feels personal and inviting.” —Gabriela Herstik, author of Bewitching the Elements and Inner Witch

Traveling through cities and sites across Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Kristen J. Sollée explores the places and people significant to the early modern legacy of the witch.

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

By infusing an adventurous first-person narrative with extensive research and moments of imaginative historical fiction, Sollée makes an often-overlooked period of history come alive. Written for armchair travelers and on-the-ground explorers alike, Witch Huntnot only uncovers the horrors of history but also reveals 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.

In this paperback edition, the author has included a new afterword and updated the travel resources section.