Customer Reviews

A History of Magic (Arkana)

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The book is divided into four parts with corresponding subpart (chapters) as follows: Prologue: The Beginnings, Part 1 - Rome and the East {High Magic; Roman Religion and Magic; Healing, Dreams and Witchcraft; Astrology and Divination}, Part 2 - Christianity and the Middle Ages {The Magic of the Church; Runes and Druids; The Jewish Tradition; Alchemy, Astrology and Magic; Witchcraft and Sorcery}, Part 3 - The Renaissance and Witch Mania {From Ficino to Bruno; The Rosicrucians and the Burning Court; The Witch Mania}, Part 4 - The Modern Revival {The Eighteenth Century; The Rising Tide; Crowley and After}.

This text presents the main undercurrent of occult magic (or "magick" as distinct from stage magic or illusions) as it developed in Western Civilization up to the modern era. Cavendish defines magic as "an attempt to exert power through actions which are believed to have a direct and automatic influence on man, nature and the divine". Its appeal is the promise of "power and success unattainable by ordinary means." He points out that "it is impossible to isolate the history of magic completely from the history of religion or science." Although each is distinct in theory ("the religious impulse is to worship, the scientific to explain, the magical to dominate and command"), in real life "attitudes are not kept in separate compartments and the distinctions are frequently blurred". One earlier, seminal work that seems to share this understanding is included in Cavendish's bibliography: the 8-vol. work entitled "A History of Magic and Experimental Science" (1923 - 58) by Lynn Thorndike. The complete title of this work is "A History of Magic and Experimental Science and their Relation to Christian Thought During the First Thirteen Centuries of Our Era." Christianity is the background religion that Thorndike relates to magic and science. This set is ..... and lengthy, but valuable. Cavendish's "A History of Magic" is also valuable, especially since it condenses a lot of information into less than 200 pages and provides information on the major influences of modern magic. For what it's worth, it was used by illusionist and critic of the paranormal James Randi in preparing his "An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural" (See the semi-short bibliography at the back of Randi's book.). If you can find a copy of "A History of Magic", it makes an excellent companion to Cavendish's other book "The Black Arts" which has become a classic introduction to occultism and magick. It is recommended for it's comprehensive and accurate presentation by a wide variety of sources (Christian, Occultist, and Skeptic).

Other books edited by Cavendish that are worth checking out include the multi-volume reference work "Man, Myth and Magic" and the one volume "Encyclopedia of the Unexplained". Cavendish is not a practitioner of the occult but an historian who seems to take an agnostic stance regarding his subject matter.

This book is one of the most concise books on the Hitory of Magic. Cavendish goes from the ancients to exploring the recent cults in Magic. It is indeed a sober book, and the more you read the darker things will get for its History. Especially towards the end you will explore the personalities of the recent grand wizards. It will frighten you. Cavendish will describe from Zoraster to the Witch mania and all the way to Crowley (the Beast) and Hitler's Nazis. Cavendish describes Cornelius Agrippa's work at length and its Philosophy. I recommend looking into this "Great Philosophy of Magic" that no student of Magic should ever be without. If you are looking for Magic in the Middle Ages I highly recommend this title. Canendish is quite a frightening writer. I do not recommend reading it at night. Magic in the Middle Ages will give you a less frightening view of its History and pictures in the book. Cavendish also explains Eliphas Levi's work A History of Magic. Other than this it is a highly well-written work and well done.

Out of print? You guys should be ashamed of yourselves! This book is one of the better ones on the market. You are all sentanced to 20 lashes immediatly! Then go out and shot yourselves for good mesure... Out of print! Humph!...

Regretfully, Shawn W. Ooten

This is one of the best books I've read on the history of the occult, and it is a shame that it is out of print. If at all possible, get your hands on a copy.

I was thinking this book was going to be a History of Magic but it turned out to be a History of witch sexuality, profanities, baby canabalism, orgies, witch homosexuality and the author was clearly himself amused with all of these things. I gave it two stars because there were some historical facts on Magic. The way he described magic and how it was practiced (in his eyes 24-7) which was not true at all, was a complete abomination. He focused too much on these sick and perverted ideas. I do not recommend young ones reading this brutal information that has been tampered with by this author. He makes a mockery of magic by constantly reffering to sexual things. He should have titled his book : A history of perversion not of magic. It is as if he took a brand new car and destroyed it. It is also too short for a history and makes magic look so hidious that it would not want to be approached. Look in his Bibliography and see how much he studied witch sexuality. If there are any writers out there consider writing a real histoty of magic seeing it in the eyes of good and not a perverted way that he could just not exclude.
Write it for students, ask questions at the end of the chapter set up tests and exclude these perverted things. Don't have any pictures. Write on the good not the evil. It is as if I wrote a history of America and it was based on sexuality some things may be true but EXCLUDE them!!! There are also some strange pictures
There are some refrences of Satanism that should not be mentioned in this book of magic. Satanism was portrayed sexually.
A terrible book, poorly written and his book is full of scorn not touching home base with magic but sex and perverted immoralities. I give this book a F. It was to short to explain from Zoraster to Satanism and Wicca today. Subjects of magic were hardly dicussed. An abomination to magic!!! Two thumbs down!!!