Customer Reviews

The Bathhouse at Midnight: An Historical Survey of Magic and Divination in Russia (Magic in History Series)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is THE book of Slavic magic.
I just used this book as the main source for my thesis on magic and folk custom in Russia. Out of all the books I researched this one has, by far, the most information in a very well laid out format. Most of Ryan's sources are primary texts and are well recorded if you ever want to do further study.
It's also a great source for anyone who just wants to learn more about the magical side of Slavic culture. And I found it very easy to read.

Reading Russian non-fiction hasn't been this entertaining. This book by W.F. Ryan is ultimate choice for learning about Slavic magic. It has almost everything: origin of magic, Western European influence (both in and out), photos of Slavic ornaments, descriptions of divinatory ways of life, and cited sources. The only flaws I can find are repeated words throughout. Examples: ". . . sleeping like like a lion . . ." or ". . . there would would have been . . ." though many are not really distractive. All in all, this is the ultimate non-fiction book about Slavic (mainly Russian) magic. A-

O.k. I know the title of this review looks like I'm shilling for the author/Publishing house...But this is one of the best books on the subject of Slavic Paganism and Magick I have seen yet. If this is a branch of study you are interested in, this book is a MUST have! Any Pagan, whether they are interested in Slavic studies or not can learn something of interest from this book.

Would you eat potatoes if you believed that they grow out of the anus and genitals of a dead oriental magician? Do you want to know what anyone is thinking? There is a way by using peas and snakes. "If a madman is touched by a diamond he will be cured of his malady" (good to cure your mad relatives, although perhaps out or reach for much of the common folk). Do you laugh at it? Russian have believed that way for centuries, and similar beliefs have been shared (do not use the past tense!) by the other European -and American- people too.

All this and more is compiled in a very orderly way by the author, in a masterful work that can be savoured by the professional historian and educated layperson alike. Besides, the book is not a difficult reading (content: 5 starts; pleasure of reading: 4 to 3).

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This book is very scientific and precise, but it is not easy to read.