Publisher's Synopsis
Wonders of the Invisible World is a book written by Robert Calef and published in 1700. The book is a historical account of the Salem witch trials that took place in Massachusetts in the late 17th century. Calef was a contemporary of the trials and had firsthand knowledge of the events that occurred. He wrote this book as a response to Cotton Mather's book, Wonders of the Invisible World, which defended the trials and the use of spectral evidence.Calef's book is divided into three parts. The first part provides a detailed account of the trials and the people involved. He describes the accusations, the trials, and the executions that took place. He also provides insight into the social and political climate of the time that contributed to the hysteria surrounding the trials.The second part of the book is a critique of Cotton Mather's defense of the trials. Calef argues that Mather's book was biased and did not accurately represent the events that took place. He also criticizes the use of spectral evidence and the lack of due process in the trials.The third part of the book is a collection of testimonies from people who were accused of witchcraft or had family members who were accused. These testimonies provide a firsthand account of the impact that the trials had on the community and the individuals involved.Overall, Wonders of the Invisible World is an important historical document that provides insight into one of the most infamous events in American history. Calef's book challenges the accepted narrative of the trials and provides a more nuanced understanding of the events that occurred.1828. The Wonders of the Invisible World are displayed in five parts. Part I: An account of the sufferings of Margaret Rule by Cotton Mather; Part II: several letters to the author and his reply relating to witchcraft; Part III: the differences between the inhabitants of Salem Village, and Mr. Parris, their Minister, in New England; Part IV: letters of a gentleman, uninterested, endeavoring to prove the received opinions about witchcraft to be orthodox, with short essays to their answers; Part V: a short historical account of matters of fact in that affair.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
