Steven Veerapen: Witches - A King's Obsession

Join us at Provan Hall for a talk by acclaimed historian Steven Veerapen, who will be discussing the topic of his new book - Witches: A Kings Obsession, which follows the significant role of King James VI&I in the explosion of the witch hunting phenomenom in Scotland. Veerapen is an author who's works in fiction and nonfiction explore the real lives and creative potential of the violent and glamourous 16th century.

Witches – whether broomstick-riding spell-casters or Wiccan earth-worshippers – have been culturally relevant for centuries. For centuries, too, belief in the potency of witchcraft has been debated, accused witches have been hunted and punished, and film and TV productions have brought the witch and the witch-hunter to big and small screens.

But where did our perception of witches – good and bad – come from? What motivated wide-scale panics about witchcraft during certain periods? How were alleged witches identified, accused, and variously tortured and punished?

The event will be followed by a book signing, complimentary teas and coffees, and the opportunity to explore our temporary exhibition Witchcraft and Folklore in Early Modern Scotland.

Host or Publisher Provan Hall Community Management Trust