The Malleus Maleficarum, or The Hammer of Witches, was written by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger, two Dominican friars, and published in 1487 in Germany. It emerged during a period of intense witch hunts in Europe, fueled by social, religious, and political upheaval. The book was structured as a manual for identifying, prosecuting, and punishing witches, combining theological arguments with legal guidelines.

The text is divided into three parts: the first discusses the nature of witchcraft and its connection to heresy; the second outlines the methods for identifying witches; and the third provides guidance on the prosecution and punishment of accused individuals. Despite its controversial nature, the Malleus Maleficarum gained widespread influence, contributing to the witch hunts that resulted in thousands of executions across Europe.

Its misogynistic tone, which portrayed women as particularly susceptible to witchcraft, reflected the societal fears and prejudices of the time. The book was reprinted multiple times and remained influential well into the 17th century, playing a key role in shaping the witchcraft trials of that era.

The first English translation of the Malleus Maleficarum was published in 1928 by the University of California Press, translated by the scholar Montague Summers. This translation emerged in a period when interest in witchcraft and the historical treatment of witches was growing, influenced by both academic research and popular culture.

Summers aimed to make the text accessible to English-speaking audiences, providing a comprehensive introduction that contextualized the work within the history of witch hunts. His translation was notable for its attempt to preserve the original tone and style of the authors while also shedding light on the societal beliefs surrounding witchcraft in the late Middle Ages.

Despite its historical significance, Summers’ translation has been critiqued for its romanticized portrayal of the witch hunts and for not adequately addressing the atrocities committed under the influence of the Malleus Maleficarum. Nonetheless, it played a crucial role in bringing this controversial text into the English-speaking world, contributing to ongoing discussions about witchcraft, gender, and the intersection of law and morality.

The first edition of the English translation of the Malleus Maleficarum, was limited to 1,275 copies. This scarcity has made it a sought-after item for collectors and historians interested in the study of witchcraft and its historical context.

Twisted Carnival now holds the 46th copy of a limited edition of 1,275 copies of the work.