This scholarly book reveals a fresh perspective on the infamous witch-hunt that took place in 1609 among the community of Pays de Labourd, resulting in dozens of executions and widespread displacement.
 
As was the case in many others in history, there was a significant political component to the Basque witch-hunt examined in this book, which delves deeper than previous scholarship on the hunt itself,  the resulting trials, and the key figures involved. Machielsen’s analysis takes the form of four chronological parts, ‘A Perfect Storm,’ describing the environment preceding the events of the commission, ‘Outsiders,’ introducing key figures, ‘The Commission (1609),’ detailing the crimes prosecuted and the collection of evidence, and ‘Aftermath (1610-1619),’ exploring the legacy of the events of 1609 and their lasting impact. Maps and figures are included throughout the text to support the reader’s understanding of the material.
 
London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024. Hardback, 318 pages. New.