Table of Contents

Introduction: Understanding the Other

Chapter 1. Hidden Enemies: Evil at the end of the Millennium
Chapter 2. Concepts of Evil, Witchcraft and the Sexual Abuse of Children in Modern England
Chapter 3. Ritual Murder?
Chapter 4. Magic and medicine: The Torso in the Thames
Chapter 5. Child Witches in London: Tradition and change in religious belief
Chapter 6. The morality of childhood
Chapter 7. Pastors and witches
Chapter 8. London’s witch children

Conclusion: Continuities and changes

About the Author

Jean La Fontaine is a Research Fellow of Inform and Professor Emeritus at the London School of Economics, where she taught for nearly twenty years. She received her PhD from the University of Cambridge and has chaired the Association of Social Anthropologists, and served as President of the Royal Anthropological Institute.

Reviews

“The richness of ethnographic material and historical and anthropological theory makes Witches and Demons an interesting book not only for those who study the Satanism scare or the African diaspora, but for anyone who wants to know more about the background of accusations of Satanism and witchcraft, be it from their Western or African roots or a combination of both.” • Reading Religion “If you are interested in anthropology, this is a must read, as the general aim is understanding the other.” • Acta Comparanda “This is an extremely interesting set of chapters. Together they create a carefully drawn exercise in comparison as a major methodological tool of anthropology, and its advantages and problems. The book is very clearly written, well argued, and fascinating.” • Frances Pine, Department of Anthropology, Goldsmiths, University of London