Carol F. Karlsen

About the Author

Carol F. Karlsen is a distinguished historian and author renowned for her insightful explorations of gender, power, and societal fears in early American history. With a PhD from Yale University, she has dedicated her career to uncovering the voices of marginalized women through meticulous archival research and compelling narrative. Her seminal work, The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England, meticulously examines the witch trials of the 17th century, revealing how patriarchal structures and economic anxieties fueled the persecution of independent women. Karlsen's scholarship bridges academic rigor with accessible storytelling, influencing generations of historians and readers interested in the intersections of religion, law, and gender dynamics in colonial America.