Invoking the Akelarre

Wilby returns to the Basque witch panic examined earlier by Gustav Henningsen, focusing on the testimony of the accused themselves. She explores how ideas of the akelarre, or witches' sabbath, emerged from local religious culture, dream experience, social pressure and inquisitorial questioning. A careful, empathetic study suited to readers interested in Spanish witchcraft, confession narratives and popular religion in early modern Europe.