Frances Hill
Encyclopedia
Frances Hill is the author of four non-fiction books on the Salem Witch Trials
, including the widely acclaimed A Delusion of Satan, published in hardback by Doubleday and paperback by da Capo. Hill seeks to retell the story of the trials in order to better understand the psychological and social causes for the witch-hunt. She theorizes that much of the hysteria centered around the witch hunt was actually caused by various outside stresses, such as the repressive theology of the Puritan
religion, the constant fear of Indian attacks, and the political struggle between the families of the "victims" and those accused of witchcraft. (Betty Parris
and Abigail Williams
lived under the roof of the domineering Puritan minister Samuel Parris
, who was a political ally of the Putnam family, one of whom, Ann Putnam, Jr.
, was among the "afflicted.") Frances Hill's other non-fiction witch trials books are 'The Salem Witch Trials Reader,' da Capo, 'Hunting for Witches,' Commonwealth Editions and 'Such Men Are Dangerous', Upper Access.
Frances Hill has also written two novels, 'Out of Bounds' and 'A Fatal Delusion,' both published by John Murray.
Her exciting third novel, "Deliverance from Evil," based on the Salem witch trials, is published by Overlook Press in the US on March 3rd, 2011 and by Duckworth in the UK on June 24th, 2011.
Salem witch trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693...
, including the widely acclaimed A Delusion of Satan, published in hardback by Doubleday and paperback by da Capo. Hill seeks to retell the story of the trials in order to better understand the psychological and social causes for the witch-hunt. She theorizes that much of the hysteria centered around the witch hunt was actually caused by various outside stresses, such as the repressive theology of the Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
religion, the constant fear of Indian attacks, and the political struggle between the families of the "victims" and those accused of witchcraft. (Betty Parris
Betty Parris
Elizabeth "Betty" Parris was one of the accusers during the Salem witch trials. In the winter of 1691–1692, Betty, the nine-year-old daughter of the Salem, Massachusetts' Reverend Samuel Parris and his wife Elizabeth, was the first to claim illness due to being "bewitched"...
and Abigail Williams
Abigail Williams
Abigail Williams was one of the initial accusers in the Salem witch trials of 1692, which led to the arrest and imprisonment of over 150 innocent people.-Salem Witch trials:...
lived under the roof of the domineering Puritan minister Samuel Parris
Samuel Parris
Samuel Parris was the Puritan minister in Salem, Massachusetts during the Salem witch trials; he was also the father of one of the afflicted girls, and the uncle of another.-Life:...
, who was a political ally of the Putnam family, one of whom, Ann Putnam, Jr.
Ann Putnam, Jr.
Ann Putnam, Jr. , along with Elizabeth "Betty" Parris, Mary Walcott and Abigail Williams, was an important witness at the Salem Witch Trials of Massachusetts during the later portion of 17th century Colonial America. Born 1679 in Salem Village, Essex County, Massachusetts, she was the eldest child...
, was among the "afflicted.") Frances Hill's other non-fiction witch trials books are 'The Salem Witch Trials Reader,' da Capo, 'Hunting for Witches,' Commonwealth Editions and 'Such Men Are Dangerous', Upper Access.
Frances Hill has also written two novels, 'Out of Bounds' and 'A Fatal Delusion,' both published by John Murray.
Her exciting third novel, "Deliverance from Evil," based on the Salem witch trials, is published by Overlook Press in the US on March 3rd, 2011 and by Duckworth in the UK on June 24th, 2011.