Overview
How is a sense of place created, imagined, and reinterpreted over time? That is the intriguing question addressed in this comprehensive look at the 400-year history of Salem, Massachusetts, and the experiences of fourteen generations of people who lived in a place mythologized in the public imagination by the horrific witch trials and executions of 1692 and 1693.But from its settlement in 1626 to the present, Salem was, and is, much more than this. In this volume, contributors from a variety of fields examine Salem's multiple urban identities: frontier outpost of European civilization, cosmopolitan seaport, gateway to the Far East, refuge for religious diversity, center for education, and of course, "Witch City" tourist attraction.
Synopsis
A superb collection of essays on Salem's rich history and cultural life over the past four centuries.
Library Journal
Salem, MA, scene of the legendary witch trials, is a city rich in historic and literary significance. In this collection of essays, Salem State College professors Morrison (history; A Praying People: Massachusetts Acculturation and the Failure of the Puritan Mission, 1600-1690) and Schultz (English & American studies; Fire and Roses: The Burning of the Charlestown Convent, 1834) attempt to explore many aspects of Salem's history and culture over a period of nearly four centuries. Essays deal with diverse topics, including local history, literature, religion, economic development, and popular culture, and vary from poetic works to fully documented scholarly discussions. The essays were contributed by the coeditors and other historians and literature professors, as well as by archaeologists, architects, art professors, other independent scholars, and writers of crime novels and other fiction. The result is a truly unusual collection that will both entertain and educate those interested in this city. Recommended for larger collections with an interest in Massachusetts and the New England area. Theresa McDevitt, Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.