More Wonders of the Invisible World

in English, by Robert Calef, written in 1700

A response to Mather's Wonders of the Invisible World, Calef examines witchcraft and witch hysteria in the original colonies. The excesses of the court in Salem are ruthlessly recounted, and a good deal of evidence is presented that many of those put to death were entirely innocent. He also questions the great gains in money and property won by the witches' accusers. Calef's criticism of Mather is particularly pointed. The book could only be published in England, as no publishing house in New England would accept Calef's manuscript. The copy held in the University library is of a later edition, printed in 1866. (Johnson, Sam, and Sandy Antunes. "Miskatonic University: A Handbook to the Pride of Arkham." Chaosium, Oct. 2005.)