A New History of Witchcraft: Sorcerers, Heretics & Pagans

(Paperback, New Edition)

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Description

For nearly thirty years, during which it has been continuously in print, Jeffrey Russell's A History of Witchcraft has been the one authoritative concise illustrated history of witchcraft. Now, in collaboration with Brooks Alexander, who has conducted innovative researches in the field, this classic book has been fully revised with new chapters and illustrations. Whether or not one believes in the powers of witchcraft, one must believe in the existence of witches. Here the definition of witchcraft in its many diverse forms is discussed and its historical, anthropological and religious manifestations charted from its origins through to the present day. The book now includes an analysis of the importance of the Internet and films in the dissemination of witchcraft and the potential tensions as a movement that was originally a closed, secretive, initiatory cult becomes an open, public religion.

Reviews

'Good stuff a useful classic updated for witchcraft aficionados' - Fortean Times
'Serious, well argued ... Russells book is rich, competently written and intelligently illustrated' - Sunday Times
'Disentangles semantic confusions and vulgar misconceptions, and traces traditions from the pagan world through the medieval heresy hunts and the witch crazes of the 16th and 17th centuries and to the present day' - Guardian

Author Bio

Jeffrey B. Russell is Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Brooks Alexander is author of Witchcraft Goes Mainstream and has written numerous articles on witchcraft, neo-paganism and other new religious movements.