WELCOME APRIL 2022 Tens of thousands of people across Europe have been accused and tried for witchcraft across the centuries, as this month’s Essential Guide explores The history of witchcraft is a dark one, filled with persecution and terror; an estimated 30,000 to 60,000 accused witches were executed across Europe between 1427 and 1782. It is a story of witch-hunters and paranoia, torture and trials, as well as fantastical tales of witches’ sabbaths and pacts with the Devil. In this month’s Essential Guide, we’ve enlisted the help of expert Professor Owen Davies to explore how and why people were accused of witchcraft, and find out what happened to those who were found guilty. Start reading from page 28. Elsewhere, we examine the life and career of 19th-century artist Sarah Biffin, a woman born without legs and arms who taught herself to paint and sew with her mouth. So great was her talent that she was even employed by the likes of Queen Victoria. Discover her remarkable story from page 59. Also this month, we investigate an audacious act of subterfuge from World War I, which saw the creation of a sham Paris to confuse German war planes attempting to bomb the French capital (page 66), and analyse one of Vincent van Gogh’s last self-portraits, painted in the wake of the mental health crisis that saw him mutilate his own ear (page 64). Plus, we look at medieval Scotland’s fight for independence (page 21), and revisit the Kinder Scout trespass of 1932, 90 years after the event (page 16). See you next month! Charlotte Hodgman Editor THIS MONTH’S BIG NUMBERS 37 The height, in inches, of renowned artist Sarah Biffin (1784–1850), who painted miniatures using her mouth 178 The number of witchcraft trials known to have taken place in Edinburgh between 1563 and 1736 2060 The year in which Isaac Newton predicted that the world would end, based on a biblical interpretation GET INVOLVED FIND US ONLINE Visit our online home, historyextra.com, for a wealth of exciting content on British and world history, as well as an extensive archive of magazine content from BBC History Revealed and our sister publication BBC History Magazine. HISTORY EXTRA PODCAST Download episodes for free from iTunes and other providers, or via historyextra.com/podcast CONTACT US facebook.com/HistoryExtra twitter.com/HistoryExtra @HistoryExtra EMAIL US: haveyoursay@historyrevealed.com OR POST: Have Your Say, BBC History Revealed, Immediate Media, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES: 0117 927 9009 SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES: PHONE: 03330 162 116 EMAIL: historyrevealed@buysubscriptions.com POST: BBC History Revealed, PO Box 3320, 3 Queensbridge, Northampton, NN4 7BF OVERSEAS: In the US/Canada you can contact us at: Immediate Media, 2900 Veterans Hwy, Bristol PA, 19007, USA immediatemedia@buysubscriptions.com Toll-free 855 8278 639 GET YOUR DIGITAL COPY Digital versions of BBC History Revealed are available for iOS, Kindle Fire, PC and Mac. Visit iTunes, Amazon or zinio.com to find out more. USPS Identification Statement BBC History Revealed (ISSN 2632-6930) (USPS 022-450) April 2022 is published 13 times a year (monthly, with a Christmas issue in December) by Immediate Media Company London Limited, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, Hammersmith, London, W6 7BT, UK. Distributed in the US by NPS Media Group, 2 Enterprise Drive, Suite 420, Shelton, CT 06484. Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, CT and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to BBC History Revealed, PO Box 401, Williamsport, PA 17703, USA 1 XI NOTT 1 , JEN X: GETTY PAGE IS TH 1 / ON XING ISH PUBL ILLOW , W X9 IMAGES : GETTY COVER THE ON APRIL 2022 3