Oxford historian Professor John Blair explores vampire beliefs, predatory corpses, and the deep connections between witchcraft and folklore in medieval and early modern Europe — and colonial New England.

What do vampires, witch trials, and shroud-chewing corpses have in common? More than you might think.

In this episode of The Thing About Witch Hunts, hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack sit down with Professor John Blair, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History and Archaeology at the University of Oxford and Fellow of The Queen's College, Oxford. Professor Blair is the author of the book Killing the Dead: Corpses, Vampires, and the Unquiet Dead in Medieval and Early Modern Europe — a landmark study of how premodern communities understood the body, fear, and the threat of the dangerous dead.

This conversation goes deep into the history of vampire beliefs and folklore, including:

The origins of the word "vampire" and the many names given to predatory corpses across cultures
Corpse execution practices in medieval and early modern Europe
Sleep paralysis and its role in shaping beliefs about the unquiet dead
The Malleus Maleficarum and its connections to vampire and witchcraft lore
Shroud-chewing, witch cakes, and vampire cakes — and what these practices reveal about community fear
Striking parallels between vampire beliefs and witchcraft accusations in colonial New England, including the Salem Witch Trials

Whether you're interested in medieval folklore, the history of witchcraft, vampire mythology, early modern European history, or the Salem trials, this episode offers essential historical context for understanding how fear, the body, and the supernatural intersected in the premodern world.

📖 Pick up Killing the Dead at bookshop.org/shop/endwitchhunts https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9780691224794

🎥 Watch more on YouTube: youtube.com/@aboutwitchhunts

🌐 Learn more about our work on historical and contemporary witchcraft accusations at endwitchhunts.org

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Vampires, Witchcraft, and the Dangerous Dead in Folklore and Ritual: Professor John Blair