History of Magic and Witchcraft: Sabbats, Satan and Superstitions in the West

Magic and witchcraft have a rich history, rooted in superstition and myth. This new history dispels misconceptions and sheds light on the lives of ordinary people and the pop culture of the premodern world. Witchcraft is a metaphor for oppression in an age of persecution, and it is important to beware of witch hunters.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2020
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Broomsticks, cauldrons, familiars, and spells: the world of magic and witchcraft ignites our modern imagination with its vivid imagery. While much of our knowledge is steeped in superstition and myth, the history of magic and witchcraft provides a fascinating glimpse into the past. It sheds light on the lives of ordinary people during premodern times and illuminates the captivating pop culture of that era. By dispelling folkloric cobwebs, this enlightening new history challenges and refutes many misconceptions about witchcraft and magic that we still hold today.

From Ancient Greece and Rome to the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Era, historian Frances Timbers explores the profound influence of Christianity and popular culture on the construction of the witch. She traces the development of demonology and ceremonial magic alongside the West's complex relationship with magic and witchcraft, charting the birth of modern Wiccan and Neopagan movements in England and North America.

Witchcraft serves as a metaphor for oppression in an age where persecution remains a global reality. Fanaticism, intolerance, prejudice, authoritarianism, and religious and political ideologies are never appealing. Beware the witch hunter!

Weight: 396g
Dimension: 228 x 160 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526757630