ThePulitzerPrize-winningauthorofCleopatra,the#1nationalbestseller,unpacksthemysteryoftheSalemWitchTrials.Itbeganin1692,overanexceptionallyrawMassachusettswinter,whenaminister’sdaughterbegantoscreamandconvulse.Itendedlessthanayearlater,butnotbefore19menandwomenhadbeenhangedandanelderlymancrushedtodeath.Thepanicspreadquickly,involvingthemosteducatedmenandprominentpoliticiansinthecolony.Neighborsaccusedneighbors,parentsandchildreneachother.Asidefromsuffrage,theSalemWitchTrialsrepresenttheonlymomentwhenwomenplayedthecentralroleinAmericanhistory.Incuriousways,thetrialswouldshapethefuturerepublic.Aspsychologicallythrillingasitishistoricallyseminal,TheWitchesisStacySchiff’saccountofthisfantasticalstory--thefirstgreatAmericanmysteryunveiledfullyforthefirsttimebyoneofourmostacclaimedhistorians.
