A Case of Witchcraft: The Trial of Urbain Grandier
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
As a Catholic priest, Grandier was an influential figure in the Loudun community and local government. A brilliant speaker, he was popular with his parishioners. But he had enemies, including Cardinal Richelieu and Louis XIII, who was trying to wrest political autonomy from local governors and centralize power in Paris. Grandier's support of the governor of Loudun meant that he was seen as an enemy of the crown. In addition, the debonair priest's romantic intrigues brought him into conflict with some of the town's most influential power brokers. When a nearby convent of Ursuline nuns began experiencing strange visions and hallucinations, Grandier's enemies seized the opportunity to orchestrate his downfall. These mass possessions, which spread through the convent despite attempts at exorcism, were regarded as witchcraft and Grandier was accused of having caused them. Condemned by Richelieu and the king, Grandier was tortured and burned at the stake for his alleged crimes. He maintained his innocence to the end. This tale of conspiracy, corruption, and mass hysteria provides a fascinating exploration of human behaviour and community dynamics.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0773517162
ISBN13:9780773517165
Release Date:August 1998
Publisher:McGill-Queen's University Press
Length:277 Pages
Weight:1.25 lbs.
Dimensions:1.2" x 6.2" x 9.2"
Related Subjects
17th Century Biographical Biographies Biographies & History Biography & History Christian Books & Bibles Church History Congregations & Orders Earth-Based Religions Europe France History Leaders & Notable People Modern (16th-21st Centuries) Occult Religion Religion & Spirituality Religious Wicca WitchcraftCustomer Reviews
2 ratings
Witchy Book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
Urbain Grandier was a Catholic priest in the 1600s was an influential figure in Loudon, France. When Ursuline nuns in a nearby convent began experiencing strange visions and hallucinations, Grandier's enemies seized the opportunity to orchestrate his downfall. These mass possessions, which despite exorcism spread through the convent, were regarded as witchcraft and Grandier was accused of having caused them. Condemned by Louis XIII, Grandier was tortured and burned at the stake for his alleged crimes, but maintained his innocence to the end. This book helps show how witch trials were primarily motivated by men with their own motives.
A fascinating and a disturbing historical account
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
A Case Of Witchcraft by independent Canadian scholar Robert Rapley is the true story of Urbain Grandier, a priest who was accused of sorcery, tortured, and burned at the stake during the reign of King Louis XIII. a meticulously researched and scholarly look at mass hysteria and religious extremism at its worst, A Case Of Witchcraft is so compelling it cannot be put down - the thoughts and acts every character within are reconstructed from records, documented evidence, and sometimes oral legends that have survived the centuries. A Case Of Witchcraft is simultaneously a fascinating and a disturbing historical account.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
