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The Malleus Maleficarum of Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger (Dover Occult)

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Description

For nearly three centuries Malleus Maleficarum (The Witches' Hammer) was the professional manual for witch hunters. This work by two of the most famous Inquisitors of the age is still a document of the forces of that era's beliefs. Under a Bull of Pope Innocent VIII, Kramer and Sprenger exposed the heresy of those who did not believe in witches and set forth the proper order of the world with devils, witches, and the will of God. Even if you do not believe in witchcraft, the world of 1484 did. Contemporary cases illustrate methods by which witches attempt to control and subvert the world: How and why women roast their first-born male child; the confession of how to raise a tempest by a washwoman suspended "hardly clear of the ground" by her thumbs; methods of making a formal pact with the Devil; how witches deprive men of their vital member; and many others. Methods of destroying and curing witchcraft, such as remedies against incubus and succubus devils, are exemplified and weighed by the authors. Formal rules for initiating a process of justice are set down: how it should be conducted and the method of pronouncing sentence; when to use the trial by the red-hot-iron; how the prosecutor should protect himself; how the body is to be shaved and searched for tokens and amulets, including those sewn under the skin. As Summers says, it was the casebook on every magistrate's desk. Montague Summers has given a very sympathetic translation. His two introductions are filled with examples of witchcraft and the historical importance of Malleus Maleficarum. This famous document should interest the historian, the student of witchcraft and the occult, and the psychologist who is interested in the medieval mind as it was confronted with various forces which could be explained only by witchcraft. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dover; First Edition (June 1, 1971)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0486228029


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 20


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.23 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 0.75 x 10.25 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #87,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #79 in Wicca #193 in Occultism #3,147 in Social Sciences (Books)


#79 in Wicca:


#193 in Occultism:


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Insightful as to how contemporary belied can become popular law
I wanted to understand the mindset of the Inquisitors, as a matter of history. This manual was an official reference document (sanctioned by the Pope no less) for the Inquisitors it deputized and indemnified. The inquisitors had blanket authority to investigate and punish, including burning at the stake, anyone who attracted their attention. The book is well organized and is filled with long-winded circular logic not unlike the Monty Python skit about seeing if a witch would float. It would be comical if it weren't based on reality. Even questioning whether witches were real could subject one to accusations of heresy or worse, being a witch. Interesting read, not a front-to-back read IMHO, but as a reference. It's amazing what can pass as law. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2021 by Nabada

  • Two-column text, good binding and print quality
If you're reading a review for a physical book on amazon, hopefully you're concerned about the properties of the physical text rather than the content. This book is a very well made copy with legible clean text and a two-column layout.
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2023 by Dahlgren

  • Fascinating glimpse of Medieval logic
Please note: This particular version is translated and annotated by Montague Summers. Summers was ABSOLUTELY NOT a Catholic priest, despite some allegations otherwise. He was completely obsessed with the occult, was a friend of Aleister Crowley, and belonged to a secret, subversive order himself. His 1928 translation of the Malleus is very sympathetic to the Inquisitors. YOU HAVE TO read his contributions to this work through that lens and be careful what you believe! That being said . . . The Malleus is highly recommended source material for anyone even remotely interested in the Witchcraft scares and trials of the middle ages. Commissioned by the Pope himself to root out heresy and witchcraft in Northern Germany in the 15th century, Kramer and Sprenger set out to provide comprehensive proof of the existence of witches and advice on how to deal with them. And no, the end result was not always a burning at the stake. Whatever you might think of the conclusions reached, the book is full of delicately crafted logic based on Aristotle and Church fathers, namely St. Augustine of Hippo. Many of the assumptions on which they base their arguments are flawed and have since been proven false. And of course, few still advocate death for the practice of the occult. Nevertheless, it is a brilliant peek into the scholarly mind of the Middle Ages. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2008 by K. Raudive

  • really cool! Bought it for the "cool" factor
Really, really cool! Bought it for the "cool" factor, and it lived up to the hype. Now, most people probably won't get as much of a kick out of reading something so horrendously out of date as this as I do, but if you do, then this is worth picking up. Great insight into the mindset of these people- it's in a way like they're religious lawyers, so they do a good job of defining their thoughts. Cool, cool book man. Cool book. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2016 by Amazon Customer

  • a great find!
I have been hunting for a copy of this rare book for a very long time. I was surprised to not only find a copy, but an inexpensive version for a great price in excellent condition. Although it is a mock Dover Thrift copy, it is well printed by digireads.com and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a inexpensive reader. It is a great addition to your occult/historical texts library. The item also arrived very quickly and securely in a padded envelope. I am very pleased with it overall. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2013 by Alison Pascal

  • Not exactly bedtime stories for the kids...
How do you rate something like this? It's the cruelest, most paranoid superstitious collections of human insanity I've ever read. But -- it's the Malleus Maleficarum, and if you collect historical religious texts, this one is required in your collection. I'm giving it five stars, not so much for content, but for the historical value and good, solid production value. If you're not interested in this type of thing, move on. But if religious weirdness is your thing, this one is definitely for you. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2013 by Kris k.

  • Why Pay For This?
Hmmm. O.K., it is not illegal to sell what is available for free. It isn't even immoral or unethical. But those who do the buying are just plain STUPID: this is in the Public Domain, folks! And only one line further will I write upon the subject: (...) [NOTE: I perceive that I have been censoreed -- my link to the textfile on Project Gutenberg was deleted. May NOTHING stand between Amazon and a petty profit! *Sigh.* Sorry about that, folks; you'll just have to find it on your own the hard way, on Gutenberg's own website, or via Google.] ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2005 by G. Parks

  • Educational read
Very informative, research oriented read. Good educational book for what was going on at that time in history- good to read and understand the reprecussions of. It's amazing how destructive humans are and horrible, how they can warp things that were not meant to be used the way they are in the name of power. More importantly, if you are going to read this book - know the history behind it's writing and the history behind how it was used to take the lives of so many for so little. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2015 by Avid Reader

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