Deadly Words

Explore the intriguing world of witchcraft in Jeanne Favret-Saada's Deadly Words, published by Cambridge University Press in 1980. This captivating study spans 284 pages and offers a deep dive into the rural Bocage region of western France, where the complexities of witchcraft come to life. Favret-Saada, a renowned ethnographer, investigates the profound meanings behind being a witch and the harrowing experience of being bewitched, often described as being 'caught' in a web of misfortunes. In this compelling narrative, she reveals that only a skilled magician, known as an 'unwitcher', possesses the power to break the witch's spell, a struggle that can lead to dire consequences. Deadly Words is essential reading for anyone interested in anthropology, cultural studies, and the mystical realms of witchcraft and magic. Discover the interplay of belief and reality in this thought-provoking exploration.