Magical Thinking: History, Possibility and the Idea of the Occult

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How do we write about magic Responding to a renewed interest in the history of the occult, this volume examines the role of magic in a series of methodological controversies in the humanities. In case studies ranging from the 'necromancy' of historiography to the strident rationalism of the 'New Atheism,' Magical Thinking sets out the surprising ways in which scholars and critics have imagined the occult. The volume argues that thinking and writing about magic has engendered multiple epistemological crises, profoundly unsettling the understanding of history and knowledge in Western culture. By examining how scholarly writing has contended and conspired with discourses of enchantment, the book reveals the implications of magic - and its scholarship - for intellectual history.

Reviews

I enjoyed the book and found its reasoning provocative...I will look forward to McWilliamss future books -- Claire Fanger, Rice University * The British Journal for the History of Science *
The erudition and the learnedness of some the passages are simply breathtaking... [An] engaging and surprising piece of work... we will undoubtedly read more of [McWilliams's] work in the future. -- Jakob Lehne, European University Institute * European Review of History *

Author Bio

Stuart McWilliams is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Oslo, Norway. His research interests include English literary and intellectual history, medievalism and the theory of history.