The story of "The Last Witch of Langenburg" is a fascinating and chilling tale from German history. It revolves around the life of a woman named Katharina Kepler, who lived in the 17th century and was accused of witchcraft. Langenburg, a small town in Germany, was gripped by fear and paranoia during this time. The population believed in the existence of witches and witchcraft, and anyone suspected of such practices was treated with suspicion and contempt. Katharina Kepler, the mother of famous astronomer Johannes Kepler, found herself at the center of this hysteria. She was accused of practicing witchcraft and was held responsible for various misfortunes that befell the village, such as crop failures and illnesses.
What’s always fascinated me about this era was the many, many superstitions poor people relied on — herbs and charms and buried cat heads, for example — to ward off misfortune. But throw in an accusation of witchcraft and suddenly what should have fit easily within the paradigm of overall superstition was a potentially terminal offense.
Furthermore, everyone knew of the accidental deaths of two Schmieg children and about the conflicts within the family, particularly between Anna and her daughter, Eva, over issues of inheritance and Eva s unsuitable marriage. The conflicts and tensions of rural life meant that some women, especially women like Schmieg, who had a sharp tongue, a drinking problem, and many enemies, gained reputations as witches, which could lead to dangerous accusations in times of crisis or after an untimely death, whether of a person or of cattle.
She was accused of practicing witchcraft and was held responsible for various misfortunes that befell the village, such as crop failures and illnesses. The accusations against Katharina were fueled by personal vendettas and jealousies, as well as a genuine fear of the supernatural. She was subjected to brutal interrogations and torture in an attempt to force a confession.
[TSS] Review: The Last Witch of Langenburg, Thomas Robisheaux
On Shrove Tuesday, 1672, in Langenburg, Germany, a young woman by the name of Eva Kustner brought a festive cake to her neighbor, Anna Fessler. Anna had recently given birth and as such, was still in delicate health, watched over by two other women constantly. Anna ate one of Eva’s cakes, but the rest were thrown away. Later that night, Anna began having convulsions and died. In the investigation that followed, blame fell on Anna Schmieg, Eva’s mother and the wife of the miller. Anna Schmieg had never been liked by her neighbors but had instead a reputation for alcoholism, nasty language, and cursing. It isn’t a stretch for them to accuse her of witchcraft and poisoning and throw her in prison. In this enlightening work of micro-history, Thomas Robisheaux explores Anna’s trial and sentencing as well as the larger political climate to give us a deeper look at accusations of witchcraft, the uncertain state of Germany after the Thirty Years’ War, and peasant culture in the late seventeenth century.
The broad concept of this book is fascinating. I had no idea that using one event to explore outlying themes was called micro-history but I love it. The trial of Anna Schmieg, as well as those of her daughter, husband, and fellow witches in other communities, was the focal point of this work, but so many interesting ideas are carefully considered. First, we are taught a little about village life. The miller was, naturally, an essential for every village, but was also rarely liked by townspeople. He could withhold grain, charge too much, or beef up his grain with sawdust and no one would ever know. He was also frequently richer than the average peasant. So suspicion falling on the miller’s wife, especially given Anna’s reputation and the coincidence of the cakes, is easily understood.
We also explore the reasons why Anna was found guilty and the potential thought process going through the heads of all the men involved, from the judge to the doctor who examined Anna Fessler’s body to the university authorities who were pulled in to pass judgement. This is all explained very carefully and I never felt lost or confused. Robisheaux explains everything he mentions and I felt that I learned a lot here about legal process, Protestantism and medical theory. It’s fascinating why people who had never seen Anna Fessler’s body decided that she’d died of arsenic poisoning and more still how the constant questions broke both Anna Schmieg and her daughter, horrible as that is, into confessing.
All of this, naturally, is wrapped up in the political struggles of The Holy Roman Empire and particular folk beliefs which caused the townspeople to react as they did. To some extent witchcraft was part of their culture and that made it even easier to single out those whose actions may have seemed entirely ordinary otherwise. With recent devastation behind them and threats on the horizon, people wanted someone to blame. Anna Schmieg was their scapegoat.
Never once does Thomas Robisheaux tell us outright his theory. Instead, he provides us with the evidence and allows us to draw our own conclusions. He doesn’t manipulate the evidence, but lays out the facts in a way that is understandable and interesting. There is no villainizing. Clearly, Anna Schmieg was not a witch, but she may have poisoned the cakes; they may have been intended for someone else, however, and not Anna Fessler. There are theories, but Robisheaux doesn’t force them on his reader. Instead we’re left with the feeling that we’ve learned something and, even better, that we want to learn more.
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Posted by Meghan | June 7th, 2009 | Tags: history, review copy | Category: reviews | | 12 comments - (Comments are closed)
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Despite the horrific abuse she endured, Katharina maintained her innocence. However, the authorities were determined to subdue her and, eventually, she was found guilty and sentenced to death. On July 16, 1620, Katharina Kepler was publicly executed by beheading, marking the end of her life and the last witchcraft trial in Langenburg. This case is significant not only because it was the last witch trial in the town but also because it highlights the irrationality and injustice of the witch-hunting era. Innocent people like Katharina Kepler suffered immensely, their lives destroyed by baseless accusations and the collective fear and paranoia of society. "The Last Witch of Langenburg" serves as a reminder of the dark side of humanity, the dangers of mass hysteria, and the importance of questioning and challenging ingrained beliefs and prejudices. It is a cautionary tale that calls for empathy, fairness, and rationality in the face of fear and superstition..
Reviews for "The Witch Trials of Langenburg: The Story of the Last Witch"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "The Last Witch of Langenburg" as I have always been interested in history and witch trials. However, I found this book to be quite disappointing. The author's writing style is overly dry and academic, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. Additionally, there were too many convoluted subplots that distracted from the main narrative. Overall, I felt that the book lacked the storytelling element that I was looking for and was more of a scholarly analysis rather than an engaging read.
2. Sarah - 1 star - This book was a complete letdown for me. Not only did it lack any sort of suspense or intrigue, but the author's constant jumping between time periods made it extremely confusing to follow the storyline. The characters were also poorly developed, and I couldn't form any emotional connection to them. It felt like the author was more interested in showcasing his historical research than creating an engaging and cohesive narrative. I would not recommend "The Last Witch of Langenburg" to anyone looking for a gripping historical tale.
3. Michael - 2 stars - As a fan of historical non-fiction, I had high hopes for "The Last Witch of Langenburg." However, I found the book to be overly detailed and lacking a clear direction. The author seemed to get lost in the minutiae of the time period, delving into unnecessary tangents that only served to confuse the reader. Additionally, the pacing was extremely slow, and it took a significant amount of effort to get through each chapter. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others interested in historical non-fiction.
4. Emily - 2 stars - I had heard great things about "The Last Witch of Langenburg" and was excited to dive into it. However, I was quickly disappointed by the confusing narrative structure and lack of character development. The author frequently jumps between different time periods, and it becomes difficult to keep track of what is happening when. Furthermore, the characters felt flat and one-dimensional, leaving me uninvested in their stories. The book had the potential to be a fascinating historical account, but it fell short in execution. I would not recommend it to those seeking a well-crafted and engaging historical read.