CONTENTS APRIL 2022

THE HISTORY OF WITCHCRAFT

30 Key moments in witchcraft history We chart six centuries of fear and persecution in Britain, Europe, the American colonies, and beyond

32 Witchcraft in the ancient world We reveal the early origins of beliefs in the supernatural

36 From accusation to trial What happened when an accused witch was arrested and forced to represent themselves in court?

40 Hunting for witches We meet the vigilantes who took extreme measures in a bid to track down their ‘prey’

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42 Scotland’s witch hunts A look at some of the facts and statistics associated with the persecution of witches north of the border

44 Witchcraft: fact or fiction? Professor Owen Davies helps debunk eight of the biggest myths and misconceptions about European witchcraft

49 Zombies of the Caribbean We take a trip to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where magical beliefs still play a role in society today

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52 The Salem witch trials How did a vulnerable New England settlement end up playing host to the most notorious witch trials in history?

56 Wicca and modern witchcraft Why a new movement flourished in the 20th century

G An American horror story: how sinister accusations led to unimaginable tragedy in 17th-century New England

FEATURES

59 Sarah Biffin: artist, writer, trailblazer We explore the remarkable story of the disabled Englishwoman who ended up painting portraits for European royalty

64 Great Paintings: Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear Discover why a harrowing Vincent van Gogh masterpiece actually carries an important message of hope and determination

66 WWI’s fake city Inside France’s bold plan to fool German planes during the Great War

70 What if... the Ottomans had won at Lepanto?

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G Meet the disabled artist who found 19th-century fame

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G How Van Gogh created an iconic self-portrait

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