#sometimes with bonus racist or xenophobic or social/political dimensions thrown in

[heartofstanding]

why do so many historical fiction writers see accusations of witchcraft, take them as gospel and run with them?

Philippa Gregory is the obvious example, but I’m thinking of Joanna Hickson who in her straight-historical fiction wrote Eleanor Cobham as a witch who not only is guilty of the historic charges against her but also succeeded in murdering Catherine de Valois via witchcraft. and that’s not even going into the cesspit of “the accused and/or accusers of the Salem Witch Trials were real witches” which makes up 80% of fiction about the trials.