The Devil in Massachusetts
$ 5.00
Author: Marion L. Starkey
Publisher: Anchor A682
Year: 1969 Print: 1 Cover Price: $1.95
Condition: Book Grades. Very Good Plus. Light wear
Genre: Non Fiction/History
Pages: 160
60126016E
First published by Marion L. Starkey, the book acts as an authentic historical account heavily rooted in actual trial records and primary documents. However, rather than presenting a dry timeline, it is written in a gripping, dramatic style that reads much like a novel.
Starkey combines historical events with modern psychiatric knowledge to explain the terrifying phenomenon. The summary highlights key elements of the book:
- The Spark: Boredom and the strict, suffocating lifestyle of a Puritan village lead a group of young women to act out and claim they are being attacked by spirits.
- The Escalation: Driven by fear, mass hysteria, and religious zeal, the community allows these girls' testimonies to condemn a diverse group of citizens—from well-respected grandmothers to skeptical farmers.
- The Aftermath: Before the terror finally ceases, 19 individuals are sent to the gallows. Eventually, sanity prevails, and community members—including one of the core accusers, Ann Putnam—admit to the deception and apologize for the tragedy.
