An examination of historical witch hunts, the kinds of women they targeted, and what they reveal about misogyny and gender-based injustice today.
 
The subtitle of this widely acclaimed book states precisely the persistent issue that it seeks to explore: Why women are still on trial. Using the early modern witch-hunts as her reference point, Mona Chollet, an acclaimed Swiss feminist writer and journalist, examines the threads that link these historical victims of persecution with those of today – women who were independent; those who choose not to have children; and those who reject the prejudices of ageism. In Defence of Witches is a sobering look at the continuing reality of misogyny and oppression, and a reminder that witch-hunting is not a thing of the past.
 
London: Picador, 2023. Paperback, 304 pages. New.