Marion L. Starkey

Marion Lena Starkey (April 13, 1901 – December 18, 1991) was an American author of history books, including The Devil in Massachusetts: A Modern Enquiry into the Salem Witch Trials. Quotes The Devil in Massachusetts: A Modern Enquiry into the Salem Witch Trials (1949) All page numbers from the trade paperback edition published by Anchor Books 0-385-03509-8 It’s bad business meddling with the devil; it makes you superstitious. Preface (p. 18) As every minister knows, a prayer is a superb device for airing an opinion. Chapter 5, “Gospel Witch” (p. 72) At such moments the voice of reason always sounds like blasphemy and dissenters are of the devil. Chapter 7, “John Proctor’s Jade” (p. 102) Treat a child like a witch and you’ll have one. Chapter 12, “Village Circe” (p. 152) A fact will often show poor and plain in contrast to the leapings of imagination. Chapter 17, “Eight Firebrands of Hell” (p. 205) Silence may have an eloquence of its own, but only in the long run. Chapter 18, “The Ghost of Mary Esty” (p. 215) People at large were not enjoying an intellectual awakening where so recently they had succumbed to superstitious panic. Chapter 18, “The Ghost of Mary Esty” (p. 221) Being ignored was a therapy that had rarely been tried upon these girls. Chapter 18, “The Ghost of Mary Esty” (p. 223) If such were the will of God, what wonder that so many had turned to the devil? Chapter 21, “Village Purge” (p. 248) Yes, he had been loyal to his friends, but even a wolf is loyal to other wolves. Chapter 22, “We Walked in Clouds” (p. 262) Technicalities are, however, of more interest to historians than to contemporaries. Chapter 22, “We Walked in Clouds” (p. 268) External links Category:1901 births Category:1991 deaths Category:Women academics from the United States Category:Historians from the United States Category:Non-fiction authors from the United States Category:Journalists from the United States Category:Educators from the United States Category:Guggenheim Fellows