Love Magic and Control in Premodern Iberian Literature

This book explores the complexity of Iberian identity and multicultural/multi-religious interactions in the Peninsula through the lens of spells, talismans, and imaginative fiction in medieval and early modern Iberia, focusing particularly on love magic. It serves as a metaphorical tool for understanding the complex relationships of the Christian with the non-Christian.

Format: Hardback
Length: 158 pages
Publication date: 30 July 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate tapestry of Iberian identity and the rich tapestry of multicultural and multi-religious interactions that flourished on the Peninsula during the medieval and early modern periods. Through the lens of spells, talismans, and imaginative fiction, it explores the complexities of the region's cultural and spiritual landscape.

Focusing particularly on the realm of love magic, which wielded its power to manipulate objects, celestial spheres, and demonic conjurings, Menaldi examines how practitioners and victims of this mystical art as depicted in major works produced in Castile navigated the intricacies of their relationships. Magic, and love magic in particular, emerges as a profound exchange of knowledge, a claim to power, and a deviation from or subversion of the licit practices sanctioned by authoritative decrees. As such, it serves as a metaphorical tool for understanding the intricate interplay between Christians and non-Christians in the region.

In their quest to unravel the hidden secrets that promised to reveal the means to manipulate their environment, occult knowledge became a conduit through which cultures and practices intertwined and evolved over centuries. This rich tapestry of knowledge and tradition laid the foundation for the diverse and dynamic societies that emerged in Iberia, fostering a harmonious coexistence of diverse faiths and beliefs.

Through its exploration of spells, talismans, and imaginative fiction, this book offers a unique perspective on the complexities of Iberian identity and the profound impact of multiculturalism and multi-religious interactions on the Peninsula's history. It serves as a valuable contribution to our understanding of this fascinating period and its enduring legacy.

Weight: 366g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367697204