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{{Short description|1862 book by Jules Michelet}}
⚫ ], of a '']'', in the 1911 edition of ''La Sorcière'', by ].]]
{{italic title}}__NOTOC__
'''''Satanism And Witchcraft''''' (originally ''La Sorcière'') is a book by ] on the history of ], published, originally in ], in 1862. The first English translation was published in ] in 1863.<ref>''La Sorcière: The Witch of the Middle Ages'', translated by L. J. Teotter, "The only Authorized English Translation", London, 1863.</ref> According to Michelet, medieval witchcraft was an act of popular rebellion against the oppression of ] and the ]. This rebellion took the form of a secret religion inspired by paganism and fairy beliefs, organized by a woman who became its leader. The participants in the secret religion met regularly at the ] and the ]. Michelet's account is openly sympathetic to the sufferings of ]s and women in the Middle Ages.
⚫ ], of a '']'', in the 1911 edition of ''La Sorcière'', by ]]]
'''''Satanism and Witchcraft''''' is a book by ] on the history of ]. Originally published in Paris as '''''La Sorcière''''' in 1862, the first English translation appeared in London a year later.<ref>''La Sorcière: The Witch of the Middle Ages'', translated by L. J. Teotter, "The only Authorized English Translation", London, 1863.</ref> Michelet portrays the life of witches and trials held for witchcraft, and argues that medieval witchcraft was a righteous act of rebellion by the lower classes against ] and the ].
Although his book is thought to be largely inaccurate, it is notable for being one of the first sympathetic histories of witchcraft.

==Views==
According to Michelet, medieval witchcraft was an act of popular rebellion against the oppression of ] and the ]. This rebellion took the form of a secret religion inspired by ] and belief in ], organized by a woman who became its leader. The participants in the religion met regularly at ]s and ]s. Michelet's account dwells on the suffering of ]s and women in the Middle Ages, and writes that history should concentrate on ‘the people, and not only its leaders or its institutions’ put him ahead of his time as a writer of micro-history.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sorceress - Jules Michelet|url=https://www.vamzzz.com/sorceress.html#.X9IQXy1h3x4|access-date=2020-12-10|website=www.vamzzz.com}}</ref> Michelet was one of the first people to attempt to give a sociological explanation of the Witch Trials, and interprets the source material very literally.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Sorceress Index|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/sor/index.htm|access-date=2020-12-10|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>


According to Michelet, in a note added to the end of the book: According to Michelet, in a note added to the end of the book:


:''The object of my book was purely to give, not a history of Sorcery, but a simple and impressive formula of the Sorceress's way of life, which my learned predecessors darken by the very elaboration of their scientific methods and the excess of detail. My strong point is to start, not from the devil, from an empty conception, but from a living reality, the Sorceress, a warm, breathing reality, rich in results and possibilities.'' (Michelet, p. 326) {{quote|The object of my book was purely to give, not a history of Sorcery, but a simple and impressive formula of the Sorceress's way of life, which my learned predecessors darken by the very elaboration of their scientific methods and the excess of detail. My strong point is to start, not from the devil, from an empty conception, but from a living reality, the Sorceress, a warm, breathing reality, rich in results and possibilities.<ref>Michelet, p. 326</ref>}}


==Structure==
The first part of the book is an imaginative reconstruction of the experience of a series of witches who lead the religion from its original form of social protest into decadence. The second part is a series of episodes in the European ]s. Today the book is regarded as being largely inaccurate, but still notable for being one of the first sympathetic histories of witchcraft, and as such it may have had an indirect influence on ].
The book is divided into two parts, each constituted by twelve chapters. The first and most famous part is an imaginative reconstruction of the experience of a series of medieval witches who led the religion from its original form of social protest into decadence. The second part is a series of episodes in the ], including the ], the trials of the possessed women of ] and ], and the execution of ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=La Sorcière - Jules Michelet|url=https://www.universalis.fr/encyclopedie/la-sorciere-jules-michelet/#:~:text=Adoptant%20une%20approche%20et%20un,la%20lib%C3%A9ratrice)%20et%20de%20ceux%20%E2%80%93|access-date=October 30, 2024|website=www.universalis.fr}}</ref> Today, the book is regarded as being largely inaccurate, but still notable for being one of the first sympathetic histories of witchcraft, and as such it may have had an indirect influence on ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=How witches went on to become modern feminist icons|url=https://theconversation.com/how-witches-went-on-to-become-modern-feminist-icons-216705|access-date=November 2, 2024|website=www.theconversation.com}}</ref> Michelet uses a mix of scholarly research and imaginative storytelling that makes the book more accessible to readers. Had he opted for a more academic style it would perhaps be more widely regarded as a reputable study. The book often reads more like a novel or a tragedy than a typical historical treatise.


==Media==
In the early 1970s, ''La Sorcière'' became the basis for the ] film, '']'' by ]. In the early 1970s, ''La Sorcière'' became the basis for ]'s film '']'' (starring ]) and the ] film '']'', by ].


==See also== ==See also==
*'']'' * '']''
*] * ]


==References== ==References==
⚫ *English translation: ''Satanism and Witchcraft: A Study in Medieval Superstition''. Transl. ]. Lyle Stuart/Citadel Press, 1939.
⚫ *''La Sorcière de Jules Michelet: l'envers de l'histoire'', ed. Paule Petitier. Paris, Champion, 2004.

{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


==Sources Online== ==External links==
* *
* *
* *
* {{Gutenberg|no=31420|name=La Sorcière: The Witch of the Middle Ages by Jules Michelet}} English translation
*
* *

==Further reading==
⚫ * English translation: ''Satanism and Witchcraft: A Study in Medieval Superstition''. Transl. ]. Lyle Stuart/Citadel Press, 1939.
⚫ * ''La Sorcière de Jules Michelet: l'envers de l'histoire'', ed. Paule Petitier. Paris, Champion, 2004.

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Satanism And Witchcraft}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Satanism And Witchcraft}}
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Latest revision as of 11:31, 11 November 2024

1862 book by Jules Michelet

Illustration by Martin van Maële, of a Witches' Sabbath, in the 1911 edition of La Sorcière, by Jules Michelet

Satanism and Witchcraft is a book by Jules Michelet on the history of witchcraft. Originally published in Paris as La Sorcière in 1862, the first English translation appeared in London a year later. Michelet portrays the life of witches and trials held for witchcraft, and argues that medieval witchcraft was a righteous act of rebellion by the lower classes against feudalism and the Roman Catholic Church. Although his book is thought to be largely inaccurate, it is notable for being one of the first sympathetic histories of witchcraft.

Views

According to Michelet, medieval witchcraft was an act of popular rebellion against the oppression of feudalism and the Roman Catholic Church. This rebellion took the form of a secret religion inspired by paganism and belief in fairies, organized by a woman who became its leader. The participants in the religion met regularly at Witches' Sabbaths and Black Masses. Michelet's account dwells on the suffering of peasants and women in the Middle Ages, and writes that history should concentrate on ‘the people, and not only its leaders or its institutions’ put him ahead of his time as a writer of micro-history. Michelet was one of the first people to attempt to give a sociological explanation of the Witch Trials, and interprets the source material very literally.

According to Michelet, in a note added to the end of the book:

The object of my book was purely to give, not a history of Sorcery, but a simple and impressive formula of the Sorceress's way of life, which my learned predecessors darken by the very elaboration of their scientific methods and the excess of detail. My strong point is to start, not from the devil, from an empty conception, but from a living reality, the Sorceress, a warm, breathing reality, rich in results and possibilities.

Structure

The book is divided into two parts, each constituted by twelve chapters. The first and most famous part is an imaginative reconstruction of the experience of a series of medieval witches who led the religion from its original form of social protest into decadence. The second part is a series of episodes in the European witch trials, including the Louis Gaufridi affair, the trials of the possessed women of Loudun and Louviers, and the execution of Charlotte Cadière. Today, the book is regarded as being largely inaccurate, but still notable for being one of the first sympathetic histories of witchcraft, and as such it may have had an indirect influence on Wicca. Michelet uses a mix of scholarly research and imaginative storytelling that makes the book more accessible to readers. Had he opted for a more academic style it would perhaps be more widely regarded as a reputable study. The book often reads more like a novel or a tragedy than a typical historical treatise.

Media

In the early 1970s, La Sorcière became the basis for Alain Robbe-Grillet's film Glissements progressifs du plaisir (starring Jean-Louis Trintignant) and the anime film Kanashimi no Belladonna, by Mushi Production.

See also

References

  1. La Sorcière: The Witch of the Middle Ages, translated by L. J. Teotter, "The only Authorized English Translation", London, 1863.
  2. "Sorceress - Jules Michelet". www.vamzzz.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  3. "The Sorceress Index". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  4. Michelet, p. 326
  5. "La Sorcière - Jules Michelet". www.universalis.fr. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  6. "How witches went on to become modern feminist icons". www.theconversation.com. Retrieved November 2, 2024.

External links

Further reading

  • English translation: Satanism and Witchcraft: A Study in Medieval Superstition. Transl. A. R. Allinson. Lyle Stuart/Citadel Press, 1939.
  • La Sorcière de Jules Michelet: l'envers de l'histoire, ed. Paule Petitier. Paris, Champion, 2004.
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