American Witches

A Broomstick Tour through Four Centuries

By: Susan Fair

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

The history of American witches is way weirder than you ever imagined. From bewitched pigs hell-bent on revenge to gruesome 20th-century murders, American Witches reveals strange incidents of witchcraft that have long been swept under the rug as bizarre sidenotes to history.

On a tour through history that's both whimsical and startling, we'll encounter 17th-century children flying around inside their New England home "like geese". We'll meet a father-son team of pious Puritans who embarked on a mission that involved undressing ladies and overseeing hangings. And on the eve of the Civil War, we'll accompany a reporter as he dons a dress and goes searching for witches in New York City's most dangerous neighborhoods.

Entertainingly listenable and rich in amazing details often left out of today's texts, American Witches casts a flickering torchlight into the dark corners of American history.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2016 Susan Fair (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

liked, but there were problems

performer spoke too quickly. I had to slow the delivery down. mispronunciation a problem.
Delivery was good in the sense that you could hear a sense of sometimes snarky humor reproduced from the original source material.

sarcasm

this author uses extreme sarcasm. very difficult to judge the factual presentation of her research. quite disappointing.

The narrator makes all the difference

I am 79 to 89% sure that the narrator is a real witch the dark humor and the sarcastic remarks during the telling of historical documents makes it feel like interview with the vampire this is a great book I loved it give it a shot you’ll love it to!

great read

this book was both entertaining and fascinating. I really enjoyed how the narrator read it, it almost gives you a very podcast feel with how she tries to engage with you. also, for those who know, her voice and accent gives off a slight Moira Rose vibe from schitt's Creek lol which I found extremely entertaining

Really good!

Very informative and I loved the way Susan wrote it and the way Colleen narrated. I was thoroughly entertained throughout. This subjects usually pisses me off and it did this time too but I found myself laughing at the way the facts were sarcastically laid out. It was an enjoyable listen!

Ehh

Interesting history but she doesn’t push the letter. The author tries to sound relatable but comes off as immature.

Funny, Interesting, and Compelling

This book is for anyone who wants history, a laugh, and also the truth.

The author takes us throughout history and paints the true picture of what it is was like to be a witch in American History and also takes glimpses of particular towns and lore.

Absolutely fantastic

nice light story

this is not textbook history, it is a nice light, easy to listen to telling of witches and the communities in the stories.

If you're looking for witch history, read this

This was a fun quick listen. I've always been interested in American witch trials and the Gothic fiction surrounding them, so hearing new stories was very exciting.

I usually don't write reviews but I read several negative comments about this book having nothing to do with modern witchcraft or Wicca in the United States and they're right. Most witches are not Wiccan. Wicca is super new to the scene. There are so many paths and practices that predate it by millennia. It's creation is credited to a couple of English men in the late 1800s and early 1900. It was likely inspired by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn an occult society which formed in 1887. They're fascinating. If you find books like this interesting I recommendreadingabout them. This is a history of witches in America. Wicca is very firmly new age and came after the last witch trial in the United States.

sarcastic and informative

most of the reviews complain about this book making fun of witches. this book makes fun of the made up version of witches not modern day witchcraft. I love the narrators voice and her sarcastic tone, it seems to fit well with the story. I had never really paid attention to the witch trials and this was a fun way to learn about it. history can be so boring the tone of this book makes it more enjoyable to listen to.