From a modern perspective, it seems incredible that people were once executed for practicing witchcraft. Yet, in medieval Europe and colonial America, more than 12,000 lost their lives this way. The "proof" of witchery was often as scanty as a physical deformity or as outrageous as the water test: If the tied-up suspect floated in water, they were guilty; if they sunk, they were innocent! Readers will be fascinated by reports of famous and lesser-known witch trials accompanied by vivid photographs, colorful illustrations, and intriguing fact boxes. They'll learn how dubious accusations, circumstantial evidence, and a lack of scientific knowledge proved fatal for so many.
