West European Studies

Microhistory is a branch of history developed in the early 1970. The focus of this subject is the history of particular thing, place or individual. It concentrates more on analyzing the past in a more detailed manner in a very small scale. The development of this branch of study gained an important role to the study of the new history. Anthropology and sociology are usually associated with microhistory giving this field a broader sense of learning.  The Bewitching of Anne Gunter  by James Sharpe is related to this branch of study (microhistory) as the book illustrates the shocking and true story of witchcraft, deception and murder.

The book describes the bewitching of a young little girl in a small rural village in Berkshire England in 1604. The book also illustrates a very intriguing depiction of medieval practices from a very unusual point of view.  The bewitching of Anne Gunter  successfully demonstrates the relation of multiple factors which to the common sense appears unimportant hence, the book describes the world of politics, theology and cultural development of one society. The book is an essential material in demonstrating and illustrating the way of life in the early years of the 17th century.

The work of Sharpe qualifies as microhistory because the author scrutinizes the detailed events in the life of Anne Gunter during the 17th century (where the main focus of his story is mostly on Anne Gunter s life). The book demonstrates that a small incident in an enormous history can be described in detail. In 1604, Anne Gunter experienced some sort of sickness which nobody could explain. Several doctors who tried to examine her came up with a conclusion that the cause of her suffering was due to some sort of witchcraft. By the time she heard the cause, she instantly accused three women of witchcraft claiming that they were the cause of her agony. Her life during the 17th century England is meticulously illustrated by Sharpe although the documentation of Anne s interrogation is not clearly stated due to poor writing of the clerk who was responsible for the records of Anne s trial (interrogation process).

A number of great men became interested at her case, apparently because out of curiosity. In addition, Sharpe also shows detailed, progressive experiences of Anne for example,  She had feigned insensibility while trumpets had been sounded near her, as swords had been flourished before her, and yet more pins had been stuck into her breasts and arms to prove her lack of feelings  (Sharpe, 3). He also illustrates the long agony of Anne before she was sent to the Star Chamber (infamous court in England)  She had already experienced some months of confinement, during which she had been subjected continuously to questioning and medical examination  (Sharpe, 4). The three women were accused Agnes Pepwell who had a child out of matrimony, her illegitimate daughter Mary Pepwell and the third is Elizabeth Gregory   all of them were considered societal misfits. Among the three accused persons, the story of Elizabeth was the most significant to tell because she was universally disliked and the worse part of it is that the father of Anne had a dispute against the Gregory s. Mary and Elizabeth faced trial for the crime of witchcraft but eventually they were acquitted. Agnes fled away before she was summoned by the court. However, the father of Anne was dissatisfied with the outcome or the verdict. As a result, he brought the case of Anne to the attention of King James but the king was not as gullible like the many people at that time. As a result, King James found out the deception of Anne s father. Anne was turned over to the care of the church and the proceedings where brought about the two instigators in the Star Chamber.  

Sharpe describes a brilliant story about England during the 17th century, apparently to impart something to people. A girl who had suffered at the hands of her very oppressive and murderous father was eventually freed. The author also tackles many aspects of medieval culture and society in England at that time (it is though impossible to cover all events concisely). He discusses witchcraft definitely in a cultural context, illustrating that societal awareness of witchcraft is related to general social conditions. Sharpe offers an excellent and very convincing evidence to support his case of the influence of printed materials in the case at hand over the discussion of the appearance of printed materials as a mean of influence upon popular culture that dates the phenomena prior to an earlier period of time than many histories. The book is a challenging and stimulating piece of work because of the author s special treatment to a particular belief - the widespread perception that witchcraft was largely a manifestation of misogyny that amounts to the debunking of traditional understanding about witchcraft. Sharpe effectively linkes the emergence of the belief in witches and satanic possession during the 17th century England to the reformation and its influence on the contemporary consciousness in detailed manner of telling Anne Gunter s story. He shows that there was so much information about witchcraft and demonic possession that had been inculcated in the tradition of England at that time. As such he reasons that those who step to the feign bewitchment are expected to know how they were suppose to act in such situation and those people who witnessed such bewitchment are expected to know how to react. Actually Sharpe does not believe in the existence of witches but in Anne s particular case, he is uncertain with his standing beliefs about witchcraft and found himself reassessing his conviction about this case. There is a great chance that people will really be mislead about the real cause of the suffering of Anne because there is a high possibility that it could actually be point out that she was a victim of witchcraft due to her violent and painful appearance, her continuous vomiting of pins and other objects, her fainting and the swelling of her stomach, depict an horrific cruelty and abuse. Anne s suffering was not really inflicted by the three accused women of bewitching her, Sharpe reveals that the main cause of her torment was her own father who wants his enemies to be convicted of witchcraft. Sharpes study of the case of Anne Gunter makes the reader enthralled. It also presents a compelling view of the life in 17th century England at the period of trials. The book also reveals that the human foibles can allow such ideology grasp a community and upturn it.The work of James Sharpe, a well researched, well written, enlightening and fascinating material is what a history book should be.

The statement  knowing the average thoughts and actions of a society is helpful if one has a brief time to try to understand a historical period, but if one wants to truly understand the history of a time or society, a microhistorical approach offers the greatest opportunity for in-depth knowledge  is very true in regards of the work of James Sharpe because of its detailed way of presenting the events. Due to this method, the reader perceived a very clear picture of what really happened at the past. Microhistorical approach is a very efficient way of presenting event not like other historical approach that may overlook some incidents that is essential for better understanding.