Demonic Possession and Exorcism in Early Mode England: Contemporary Texts and their Cultural Contexts

by: Philip C. Almond (Author)

Publisher: Cambridge University Press (1 July 2004)

Language: English

Print length: 416 pages

ISBN-10: 0521813239

ISBN-13: 9780521813235

Book Description

This book is exclusively devoted to demonic possession and exorcism in early mode England. It offers modeized versions of the most significant early mode texts on nine cases of demonic possession from the period 1570 to 1650, the key period in English history for demonic possession. The nine stories were all written by eyewitnesses or were derived from eyewitness reports. They involve matters of life and death, sin and sanctity, guilt and innocence, of crimes which could not be committed and punishments which could not be deserved. The nine critical introductions which accompany the stories address the different strategic intentions of those who wrote them. The modeized texts and critical introductions are placed within the context of a wide-ranging general Introduction to demonic possession in England across the period 1550 to 1700.