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: Paperback / softback
Length: 158 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
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 eras. 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 were depicted in the major works produced in Castile. 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 permitted by authoritative decrees. As such, it serves as a metaphorical tool for understanding the intricate relationships 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 society that emerged in Iberia, a testament to the enduring human spirit's thirst for knowledge and exploration.

Through its captivating narrative and insightful analysis, this book offers a profound exploration of the complexities of Iberian identity and the profound impact of multiculturalism and religious diversity on the region's history and culture. It serves as a valuable contribution to the field of medieval and early modern studies, shedding light on the rich and complex tapestry of the past.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032051116