The witch has long been a source of fear and revulsion but has become a symbol of feminine power, sexual liberty, indigenous knowledge and political rebellion. 

The Festival of the Accused delves into the history of witchcraft and summons a host of writers and performers who praise the modern witch. It tells the true stories of those accused in the English Witch Trials, a violent reckoning that gripped the country for hundreds of years and affected thousands.

It also celebrates modern devotees of the craft, in all their strangeness and subtlety. From the authors of 'Witch Lit' telling tales of powerful covens, to queer performance artists who draw inspiration from the occult. 

This event is comprised of three events live streamed from the British Library's Festival of the Accused:

The Bideford Witches: John Callow and Shami Chakrabarti in Conversation 12:00 - 13:00

In his fascinating book The Last Witches of England:  A Tragedy of Sorcery and Superstition, John Callow charts the changing attitudes towards the Bideford women, from revulsion to regret, in celebration of our own age. He is joined by human rights lawyer, campaigner and writer Shami Chakrabarti. Together they'll uncover the tragedy of the Bideford Women and ask what it tells us about present day persecution and the dangers of demonising others.

Witch-Hunt: A History of Persecution 13:30- 14:30

This event addresses the dark history of mistrust, incrimination and public violence that spawned the English Witch Trials. Our panel of leading historians will delve into the forces that fueled the trials and consider their legacy on legal history, religious beliefs and attitudes towards those perceived as 'other'. With Malcolm Gaskill, Marion Gibson and Alexander Lock.

A New Coven: Witches in Contemporary Fiction 15:00 – 16:00

Enter the world of ‘WitchLit’ – the new genre of historical and fantasy fiction that is conquering 2023. With Kirsty Logan author of Now She is Witch, Juno Dawson author of the fantasy trilogy Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, AK Blakemore author of The Manningtree Witches and Stacey Thomas on her debut novel The Revels. Chaired by historian, broadcaster and founder of HistFest Rebecca Rideal.  

This event is FREE and drop in, no booking required