A new book has appeared about witchcraft in my area! It’s written by Johan Otten, a journalist who studied the subject of witchcraft in Noord-Brabant (the Netherlands) for over three years with the following book as result. Duivelskwartier. 1595: heksen, heren en de dood in het vuur (Devil’s quarter. 1595: witches, lords and death in the fire) looks very promising and will likely be in my posession very soon.

Here’s a translation of the summary, from publisher Vantilt’s website:

‘During the 16th century in Europe, a relentless persecution started of people, mainly women, who were seen as followers of the devil. Tens of thousands of these ‘sorceresses’ lost their lives during bursts of violence that reached their height around 1600. The witch hunt followed an unpredictable pattern of local and regional outbursts. About one of these explosions, a extensive and detailed file has been kept that is exemplary for the persecutions in that period. In the year 1595 a high functionary of the government from Brussels traveled to ‘s-Hertogenbosch to research the trial and execution of tens of women in the areas of Peelland and the Meijerij. The court reports and notes and  he gathered give a fascinating insight in the witch hunt, and give a voice to survivors and family members.

Based on authentic documents, Duivelskwartier tells the true story about a witch hunt in Peelland.  It’s about neighbours’ quarrels, magic and suspicions, about hallucinated witches’ sabbaths, about manupilation by those in power. And it’s especially about the horrific fate of everyday village people.’

Additional information: Price €24,50,  ISBN 9789460042447, paperback, illustrated in color, 15 x 23 cm, 452 pages. Purchase here: http://www.vantilt.nl/boeken/duivelskwartier/