Cassell's Dictionary of Witchcraft (Cassell Reference) [Paperback]

David Pickering (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2003 | Series: Cassell Reference

Separating truth from myth, an expert offers an A-to-Z guide to one of the most intriguing aspects of the supernatural. Hundreds of carefully researched articles provide explanations of the key terms and concepts of witchcraft, including demons, exorcisms, familiars, the Inquisition, sabbats, shape-shifting, and spells. Fascinating biographies of key figures range from witches mentioned in the Bible and other ancient literature to the 17th-century "Witch-Finder General" Matthew Hopkins, and the modern "Great Beast," Aleister Crowley. Articles on witch trials through the centuries draw on eyewitness testimony and contemporary records of torture, confessions, and recantations. Opinions about witchcraft include legal experts, theologians, and psychologists. For example, Jean Bodin, a French philosopher, opposed the burning of witches since they usually died quickly.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Pickering is an experienced freelance writer and editor, who specialises in compiling arts and general reference books. An English language and literature graduate of St Peter's College, Oxford, his most recent credits as author and editor have included THE CASSELL SOCCER COMPANION, THE CASSELL COMPANION TO TWENTIETH-CENTURY MUSIC, THE CASSELL DICTIONARY OF PROVERBS, THE CASSELL DICTIONARY OF SUPERSTITIONS, THE CASSELL DICTIONARY OF FOLKLORE and CASSELL'S SPORTS QUOTATIONS. He lives in Buckingham with his wife and two sons.

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Cassell (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0304365629
• ISBN-13: 978-0304365623
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,490,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Profoundly moving, March 30, 2009

By 

Catherine R. Proppe "Cathy" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cassell's Dictionary of Witchcraft (Cassell Reference) (Paperback)

I don't think I've ever felt such an emotional reaction to a book. This is one of the most devastating and horrifying chronicles of ruthless persecution and torture of innocents that I have ever read. The cover makes it look like a children's book, but what it is is a documentation of the people and places and techniques and texts that were part of the Church's organized campaign to torture and destroy heretics. Very powerful. Amazing what human beings will do to one another.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars re-review, February 17, 2011

By 

Jill Collins (Mineral Wells, WV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cassell's Dictionary of Witchcraft (Cassell Reference) (Paperback)

to those from whom i have purchased if i had underscored you based on your rules, sorry

But unless something stands out as extra special you'll get the 5, I suppose by your system you

should have recieved a 4 which would be that I recieved what I ordered on time and in the condition

expected.ok jc

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible book-completely incorrect, February 11, 2010

By 

Joan G. Zakrzewski "Joan G. Zakrzewski" (New Hartford, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cassell's Dictionary of Witchcraft (Cassell Reference) (Paperback)

I bought this book thinking it was a dictionary of words on Witchcraft/Wicca. Instead it is a book from some Right-Wing Christian. This book is horrible. He states in this book that witches do not get baptised and they make a pack with the devil. Really mister? First witches do not believe in the devil, never have. Most people joining Wicca have come from Christian Churches and have been baptised. Does he know that Witches and Wiccan's baptise their children in the Name of the Creator in the form of the God/Goddess. What does that mean? It means that Witches believe that the Creator has both a female side as well as a male side. So Witches say God/Goddess to show that. Witches do not call in demons. That comes from people who do High Magic, your Magicians and Mystics. Witches and Wiccans have a code of conduct called the Wiccan Rede which states do as you want as long as you harm none. Does that sound like people doing evil? I think this author has Satanist mixed up with Witches. Then this author says that the people who were burned during 1200 - 1600's deserved being burned. It was the correct way of killing them. Can you believe this man probably goes to church but never hears what his Jesus is saying. The things that Jesus did would have gotten him burned alive also if he lived during those burning times. Does this author know that first the Jews were burned, then early Christians who had different teaching than the Catholic Church. Then anyone who talked about scientific stuff the church did not understand. Lastly were the women the church called heretics or witches. Why? Because right after the Crusades, the church started encouraging men to learn how to doctor their holy soldiers who came back very hurt. After awhile the men who became the first doctors complained that people were not going to them. They were going to women who were medicine healer and midwives. These ladies had learned how to use herbs to heal and were smarter than the doctors. So the church started calling these ladies witches and going after them. Jesus never mentions witches. If witches were such a problem he would have told people to go out and hunt them down. But instead he told people to love one another. Does burning people and Crusades to attack others sound like love to you? Jesus was not a Christian and he would not approve of the way people used his name to hurt others. Stay away from this book and let it collect the dust it deserves. Shame on you!!