The author of In The Devil's Snare The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 was written by Mary Beth Norton. The book was published by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc., New York in 2002. It was distributed by Random House, Inc., New York in 2002.
             This book covers the chronological events of the Salem Witchcraft Trials. The author writes in a 17th century standpoint that is in terms of the 17th century, and starts the well known story with the affliction of two young girls who happen to live in the same household of Reverend Samuel Parrish. One main point that Norton covers is the key role of adult men in legitimizing the complaints of the afflicted persons. Norton also looks at important turning points, the accusers, the confessors, the judges, and the accused. She makes it clear to point out that thirty-eight men were part of accused. She illustrates how trials spun out of control and how gossip played a role in the trials. Norton also looks at how women under the age of twenty five, who would normally be ignored, were given credibility in the Salem Witchcraft trials. Most importantly she looks into how the Indian wars could have disturbed the way of thinking for the village and northeastern New England. This convinced almost everyone that they were in the devil's snare. Norton also makes it a point to show that the county's governor, council, and judges were responsible for letting the trials reach the intensity that it did.
             She points out that most of the accusers were neighbors of the afflicted. One strength Norton emphasizes on is the fact that women had center stage during this time. She writes to say that the women were the major instigators and victims of a public show. This is indeed true. Most of the afflicted were servants to no other than men whether they were rich, middle class, or poor. A vast amount of those accused at Salem were women who were quarrelsome which had dou...