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From the earliest Paleolithic cave rituals, magic has gripped the imagination. Magic and magicians appear in early Babylonian texts, the Bible, Judaism and Islam. Secret words, spells and incantations lie at the heart of every mythological tradition. Today, magic means many things: contemporary Wicca is practised widely as a modern pagan religion in Europe and the US; ‘magic’ also evokes the cathartic rituals of Chaos magic, but stretches to include the non-spiritual, rapid-fire sleight of hand performed by slick stage magicians who fill vast arenas. The Occult, Witchcraft and Magic is packed with authoritative text and a huge and inspired selection of images, chosen from unusual and hidden sources. The material is presented in 100 entries, and includes some of the best-known representations of magic and the occult from around the world.





| Dimensions | 21.2 x 26.3 x 5 cm |
| Edition | Illustrated |
| Isbn 10 | 0500518882 |
| Isbn 13 | 978-0500518885 |
| Item Weight | 1.76 kg |
| Language | English |
| Print Length | 400 pages |
| Publication Date | 22 Sept. 2016 |
| Publisher | Thames and Hudson Ltd |
User
A beautiful book, well exceeding my expectations.
This is a strikingly beautifully illustrated and heavy book. I should have known what size it was when I ordered it, but obviously never checked. Every page is illustrated. The only criticism I have so far is that many of the illustrations are from classical paintings but the painting title and painter name seem to be missing, which is a shame as it is not possible to find the original artwork or date it accurately.The paper is good quality, heavy and slightly glossy. The colour illustrations are excellent. The illustrations are the primary material of this book. The text is almost just to fill in some background to help with the understanding.The format is roughly a subject to a spread with illustrations and a little text. The text is brief, and goes into little depth, but covers a great many aspects. This format is not imposed rigidly and some subjects cover multiple spreads. There is not enough detail to become bored with it, and it might initiate research into areas of interest in more detailed works.For an introductory text on arcane teachings of many peoples I have not seen a better one. I think anyone wouldbe happy to own this book. I have been interested by some of these teachings for many years (currently reading the White Goddess), but this book will remain a pleasure to own and to refer back to.This is a gem of a book.
User
Great book, but the main attraction is the illustration
Beautifully illustrated. Topics explored quite concisely (each topic about 2 to 4 pages, including illustration), so if you are looking for a deepdive into these topics, it may not be the best book for you. I did enjoy the book though, I learned a bit more than I already knew, and the illustrations are really interesting and beautiful.I enjoyed it enough to have already purchased the author's other title on mythology, and am excited to receive it.
User
Recommend to anyone interested in base knowledge.
Hefty book. Full of all sorts. Probably best used for reference, rather than to try and read outright.Still learning a lot form it -- useful for when I write.Not too much depth, but it gives a strong outline of most practices, with some deeper info on the larger areas it focuses on.
User
Nice quality item
Interesting
User
Extremely fascinating!
I've always been interested in the occult as well as history, so this book was a match made in heaven. The high quality images and well-researched material are presented beautifully. I'd give it more stars if I could.
User
Lovely
Brilliant book. Full of illustrations.
User
Best book ever
Amazing book! Great knowledge, great research. Amazing quality.
User
Five Stars
Very informative if you like witches, you might learn something
User
genial
genial
User
Excellent Fully Illustrated History of All Things Mysterious and Magical
This lushly illustrated volume is a must have for anyone with even a passing interest in the occult, magic, or witchcraft. Christopher Dell provides an unbiased look at magic through the ages, starting with the earliest cave paintings and moving up through modern day. Every page is in full colour, with pictures, paintings, woodblock prints, diagrams, etc. that complement the text. The book is worth the price for the pictures alone.The book is definitely very fact based. Dell doesn't present himself as either a believer or non-believer. He just presents the facts and leaves the reader to make their own decisions. Each section is short, providing a good overview of the topic under discussion. This isn't a deep scholarly book like, for example, something from Ronald Hutton, but it is still a very interesting and informative read. Despite its rather large side, it made for great bedtime reading for me, and I absolutely devoured it.
User
Amazing!
Splendide immagini per quantità e qualità
User
Informativ und knapp
Dad Buch ist wunderschön gestaltet und sehr informativ. Es schneidet viele Themen an und bietet eine tolle Grundlage. Ich habe es für eine Ausarbeitung gekauft und bin begeistert!
User
Great book :)
Great !
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