Women's History Resource Site

King's College History Department

Book Review

Donovan, R. Frank. Never on a Broomstick. Harrisburg, PA: Stockpole Books, 1971.

The book, Never On A Broomstick, provided interesting information about the evolution of witchcraft. The evolutionary process begins with the beginning of religion. Donovan says Pagan religion began with the Neolithic cave paintings found thorough France. These paintings show that the Neolithic man had close ties with the animals he hunted. They would dress up in animal skins and horns and by performing certain rites the spirits would influence the finding of food (15). The information about Pagan beliefs in the fertility goddess and the role of the devil in witchcraft was for the most part very interesting. The author explains how Diana, a pagan goddess, would take large tracts of women and travel over vast lands and obey her every command (87). I must say that the rest of the book is not for people who have strong faith in the Christian or Judaism religions. I feel that Donovan is unfair in his accusation that these two religions were the original motivation for the persecution of witches. Donovan refers to the edict in Exodus xxii,18, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live," (36). I also want to cover the aspect of torture methods. I feel the author uses too much verbal imagery about these methods. Donovan speaks in great detail about the description of the strappado and squassation. The victim’s hands are tied behind the back and the victim is pulled up with weights on every limb. The limbs are ripped out of the sockets (181). This part of the book is not for someone with a weak stomach, unless, you like to read of eight year olds being treated like animals in the most horrific manner. If you like gore stories, you will be pleased.

After the introduction of the book, which condemns Christianity and Judaism, Donovan, shifts his attention to the craft that we all hear stories about. It gives detailed description about the contemporary beliefs we as a society hold against witches. Topics covered include possession and the control of natural phenomenon. According to Donovan nuns and children are the easiest to influence. Children would start hysterical hunts by claiming that an old lady influenced them. The other information I thought was helpful was the ability to create hailstorms, torrential rains, or hurricanes (78).

The author insists that the first known opposition from the Catholic Church towards witchcraft was in the Canon Episcopi. This was a church that tract condemning witches. It later became part of the Canon Law. The document did not actually call witchcraft heresy but the church was on the verge of a panic. The author puts to much faith in these documents. The only reason I question this is because witches never wrote anything down (118). There is no historical evidence from their point of view.
In the early periods of Christianity witchcraft was well known about but didn’t have a major problem with it. This is until Donovan explains, that many Christian pastors were envious of the attention witchcraft got and that it was used with the aid of evil spirits, demons demons or false god. The church eventually felt threatened and would stop at nothing to stop the witch influence spread. Even if someone believed in the True Faith they were still at risk like Joan of Arc, who was burned because inquisitors did not believe she heard God’s voice (46) She was a heretic in their view.

Donovan blames the Church for the interest in witchcraft; he says that it is to boring for people and that the nocturnal meetings of witches appealed to people (118).
I agree that people gathered because they did not have a lot of entertainment to relieve stress. I do not think it was a slap in the face of the Church. The fact that the witch-hunt trials were a public event shows just how desperate people were for alternative things. A witch’s mass with naked dancing, drinking glutinous amounts of alcohol, and engaging in sexual activities, was more fun than sitting and listening to a preacher. 
I think the books purpose was to let people with minimal knowledge of understanding of witchcraft how these supernatural ideas came about. This book takes a critical view on witchcraft. The author is trying to be as objective as possible with all the beliefs although, I think he is too critical of Christianity in the book. He gives witchcraft the benefit of the doubt but gives Christianity none.

This book touches on a lot of controversial issues with traditional religions. It also discussed in great detail the horrific acts that were committed by the ignorant populace. I hope I gave a better description of these topics in order to give a better understanding of the book’s purpose.

This book is good for someone who is interested in learning about the origins of the craft. The beginning of the book drags through the history, but when it gets into the witch-hunt part it begins to pick up. I recommend reading this book if you like detailed descriptions of the torture inflicted on the accused witches. However, you might not want to read this if you are a devout Christian because it casts a lot of blame in that direction.

URL: http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/wrevdonovan.html Written by Kelly McDermott Last Revision: 6 November 2001 Copyright © MM Prof. Pavlac's Women's History Site