Debunk the many myths and misconceptions about the Salem witch trials, and learn the real history behind this infamous event.

The Salem witch trials episode is among the most frequently mentioned chapters in American history, both domestically and internationally. Despite this widespread notoriety, the core set of facts known by the general public about the episode is astonishingly low in both depth and accuracy. The resulting erasure of historic truth has been often fueled by the very same prejudices that gave rise to the witchcraft hysteria in late 17th century New England. This book clearly presents the accurate historical record but with the added bonus of tracing many of the surrounding popular misconceptions. The authors invite you to compare and contrast the facts and fictions as a rewarding intellectual experience where one can expect to be fascinated and even amused by popular delusions as well as challenged about the veracity of their own assumptions.

K. David Goss is Professor of History and Museum Studies at Gordon College, USA. He is author of Daily Life During the Salem Witch Trials (2023), Documents of the Salem Witch Trials (2018), and The Salem Witch Trials: A Reference Guide (2007). He is the 2014 recipient of the Dr. Marvin Wilson Award for Excellence in Teaching Humanities, and is a Society of Colonial Wars Scholar, Boston University. In 2025 he received the Salem History Award from the Salem Historical Society and was a credited historical advisor on Ken Burns' recent production “Henry David Thoreau,” which recently premiered on PBS.

A. A. Grishin is a professional multimedia creator, specializing in public history and education. Grishin developed interactive experiences for dozens of museums around the country, including the Bill Clinton Presidential Library, Smithsonian Museum, and Mystic Seaport Maritime Museum. He has also made contributions to the study of Classical Latin poetry and original medieval sources. Grishin co-authored Colonial America: Facts and Fictions (2021). Most recently, his research on the Chinon Parchment was profiled in the Discovery Channel series Expedition Files, in which he appeared as a guest expert.