Other editions of book The Lancashire Witches

This early work is William Harrison Ainsworth's novel, “The Lancashire Witches”. The story is based on the factual case of the Pendle witches, a group of women who were executed in the early seventeenth century for witchcraft. Originally published as a serial in 1848, “The Lancashire Witches” is widely considered to be Ainsworth’s best work, and has never been out of print. This fantastic tale is highly recommended for those with an interest in historical cases of witchcraft, and constitutes a must-read for fans of Ainsworth’s work. William Harrison Ainsworth (1805–1882) was an English novelist famous for his historical fiction. Many classic books such as this are becoming increasingly rare and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.

Ainsworth's last masterpiece, The Lancashire Witches proved a best-seller in its day and influenced many contemporary authors. The Lancashire Witches begins in the 16th century, in Lancashire, England. When a Cistercian monk, Borlace Alvetham, is falsely accused of witchcraft and condemned to death by his rival, Brother Paslew, he sells his soul to Satan and escapes. Years later, granted the powers of a warlock, he returns in the guise of Nicholas Demdike to witness Paslew's execution for treason. Dying, Paslew curses Demdike’s offspring -- who become the titular "Lancashire Witches." The rest of the book set in the 17th century. Mother Demdike, a powerful witch, and her clan face rival witches, raise innocent young Alizon Devi as their own, and try to corrupt Alizon despite her innocent ways. Ultimately, the book becomes a struggle between Heaven and Hell, with Alizon's fate hanging in the balance. Ainsworth’s last masterpiece, The Lancashire Witches proved a best-seller in its day and influenced many contemporary authors.

The Lancashire Witches - A Romance of Pendle Forest is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by William Harrison Ainsworth is in the English language, and may not include graphics or images from the original edition. If you enjoy the works of William Harrison Ainsworth then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. 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 the original work.

Thank you for checking out this book by Theophania Publishing. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you soon. We have thousands of titles available, and we invite you to search for us by name, contact us via our website, or download our most recent catalogues. The trials of the Pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in English history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th century. The twelve accused lived in the area around Pendle Hill in Lancashire, and were charged with the murders of ten people by the use of witchcraft. All but two were tried at Lancaster Assizes in August 1612, along with the Samlesbury witches and others, in a series of trials that have become known as the Lancashire witch trials. One was tried at York Assizes during July 1612, and another died in prison. Of the eleven individuals who went to trial, nine women and two men, ten were found guilty and executed by hanging and one was found not guilty. Six of the Pendle witches came from one of two families, each headed by a female in her eighties at the time of the trials: Elizabeth Southerns, her daughter Elizabeth Device, and her grandchildren James and Alizon Device; Anne Whittle, and her daughter Anne Redferne. The others accused were Jane Bulcock and her son John Bulcock, Alice Nutter, Katherine Hewitt, Alice Gray, and Jennet Preston. The outbreaks of witchcraft in and around Pendle may demonstrate the extent to which people could make a living by posing as witches. Many of the allegations resulted from accusations that members of the Demdike and Chattox families made against each other, perhaps because they were in competition, both trying to make a living from healing, begging, and extortion.

A hundred years ago, churchmen in Lancashire set upon one another -- one sold his soul to the devil, and used his unfathomable power to send his rival to the gallows. The man he condemned died cursing him and his children . . . and those children became The Lancashire Witches. Mother Demdike -- the crone who was the child of the man who sold his soul to the devil -- has become an arcane monster, and she and her vile family are challenged only by their witchly rivals, Mother Chattox and Alice Nutter. . . .

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. 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 the original work.