This reference book on witchcraft is packed with:- Informative, engaging, and accessible text and lavish illustrations - Special features on aspects of magic, such as oracle bones of ancient China, the Knights Templar, and magic at the movies, and "plants and potions", such as mandrake and belladonna examine topics in great detail- Quick-fact panels that explore magic origins, key figures, key deities, use in spells, structures of religions, and moreThis indispensable witchcraft book explores the common human fascination with spells, superstition, and the supernatural. Despite this, I still absolutely loved the book, and highly recommend it to new and seasoned witches alike. I was impressed by the number of subsections there were and how thorough the coverage is both in terms of history and geography. Nos habla desde la mismísima prehistoria, pasando por costumbres, creencias y prácticas de diferentes culturas y en diferentes países, por la oscura época de quema de brujas y el renacer del ocultismo, hasta la actualidad.

There are many highlights I could mention, but I found the chapters on Mesopotamian magic (I’d also recommend The First Ghosts by Irving Finkel on this topic) and Renaissance folk magic especially engrossing.

Because of the breadth of knowledge they are discussing, most sections are very brief in their explanation. This was a fascinating listen that included information from the far reaches of history all the way to present day. The most comprehensive illustrated history of witchcraft available, A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult will enthrall and fascinate you with its lavish illustrated, accessible entries, whether you are a believer or a skeptic. That brought about an interest in me, I found it interesting to listen to this overview of the history of Witchcraft.

It is not possible to join one of our courses without agreeing to be bound by our Terms and Conditions. However, if you're already into mythology, magic, and the occult in general then this book will probably provide little to no new info for you. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, this richly illustrated history book provides a fresh approach to the extensive and complex story of witchcraft, magic and the occult. The visually appealing illustrations were overshadowed by the lackluster writing style, which failed to engage me as a reader.

Susanna Lipscomb, is a professor of history at the University of Roehampton, a fellow of the royal historical society, and a fellow of the higher education academy.