[Gutenberg 44412] • The Devil in Britain and America

1896\. The author believes that all modern English books on the devil and his works are the same; they tell the same tales, are not illustrated and give the same cases of witchcraft. In this book, he has localized his facts and has provided 47 illustrations. Ashton gives a succinct account of demonology and witchcraft in England and America by using authorities not usually given and by a thorough research of ancient cases, using original sources. This volume brings to light many cases never before published. An appendix contains a list of books consulted in this work.

Excerpt:

To my thinking, all modern English books on the Devil and his works are unsatisfactory. They all run in the same groove, give the same cases of witchcraft, and, moreover, not one of them is illustrated. I have endeavoured to remedy this by localizing my facts, and by reproducing all the engravings I could find suitable to my purpose.

I have also tried to give a succinct account of demonology and witchcraft in England and America, by adducing authorities not usually given, and by a painstaking research into old cases, carefully taking everything from original sources, and bringing to light very many cases never before republished.

For the benefit of students, I have given - as an Appendix - a list of the books consulted in the preparation of this work, which, however, the student must remember is not an exhaustive bibliography on the subject, but only applies to this book, whose raison d'etre is its localization.