The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-paganism [Paperback]

Raymond Buckland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2001

With 560 entries, a resource section, and 114 photos and illustrations, this is an exhaustive A-to-Z exploration of people, places, events, literature, and other matters related to this ever-timely and popular topic. It defines both the darker Christian concept and the true concept of Wicca, concentrating on the Western European and later New World versions of Witchcraft and magic.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Raymond Buckland is the author of several books, including The Fortune-Telling Book and Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft.

Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Visible Ink Press (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578591856
• ISBN-13: 978-1578591145
• ASIN: 1578591147
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #555,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In 1962 I came to the U.S. from England, where I'd written comedy scripts and was personal scriptwriter for a popular British comedian. Interested in the occult for over fifty years, in the past forty years I've had over forty books published (fiction and non-fiction), with nearly two million copies in print and translated into seventeen foreign languages. I've received awards for my work and had books featured in several national book clubs. I was Technical Director for movies, working with Orson Wells and William Friedkin (director of The Exorcist). Of Romany descent, I'm an authority on Gypsies and have written several books on them. I've lectured at colleges and universities and been the subject of articles in newspapers and magazines: New York Times, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, New York Sunday News, National Observer, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Look Magazine, Cosmopolitan, True, and others.

I've appeared on national television and radio talk shows and been on BBC-TV, England, RAI-TV, Italy, and CBC-TV, Canada. I appeared extensively on stage in England and played small character parts in movies in America. I taught courses at colleges and universities and have been a featured speaker at conferences and workshops. I'm listed in reference works including Contemporary Authors, Who's Who In America, Men of Achievement, and International Authors' and Writers' Who's Who.

Latest books are The Weiser Field Guide to Ghosts, The Spirit Book, Buckland's Book of Spirit Communications, Wicca For One, and Cards of Alchemy. A DVD version of my Wicca video has also recently been released: Rebirth of the Old Religion. A prolific author, I'm currently working on my autobiography. Today I live on a farm in north-central Ohio. Photo Credit: Gregory Ford

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice Coffee Table Book, March 30, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-paganism (Paperback)

Buckland's new title would make a nice "My first Witchcraft/Wicca book" as it covers many topics in a light introductive manner. As such, it would make a nice gift for a teen or young adult that has expressed an interest in investigating Witchcraft.

However, as a Community Elder who has taught the Craft for over 20 years, I cannot recommend this book for the serious researcher as it does not go into much depth and omits much of the material that would have made this book a good community resource. My comment is in no way intended as a put-down of Buckland's book, but simply a personal observation. Personally I enjoy all of Buckland's works.

I think this particualr book would make a good companion volume to other Wicca and Witchcraft encyclopedias that go into much more depth and cover a wider scope of topics.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Little Buckland Flavor, October 5, 2002

By 

Boudica (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-paganism (Paperback)

I am impressed with all the large bodies of work that have been taken on by the authors in the pagan community as of late. There have been a few who have tried to collect in one place all the information regarding the birthing and growth of the pagan community.

Each of them has its own flavor, which is what makes them different from each other. They contain various bits of information that the author found to be of significance to the pagan community.

Raymond Buckland has now placed his collection of facts and fiction before the pagan community with his encyclopedia. This has the "Buckland" flavor throughout and is the Pagan world as he sees it.

The entries are comprised of biographies, descriptions of tools and words, short synopsis of movies and television programs, traditions, history and much more. Many entries are accompanied by his sources, which also includes Raymond Buckland.

So, presented here, for the reader, is the world according to many different authors, with diverse opinions on many of the topics. This can give varied opinions on the many topics covered here, but it also gives us the insights and opinions of Mr. Buckland as well. In some instances there are direct contradictions, but if you check the source, you will find it is because Mr. Buckland has presented the viewpoint of two different persons, which gives this book a contrast not seen in other works of this kind.

The material is cross referenced in the index which allows for quick access to the material within, as well as it being alphabetically referenced.

There are also photos and illustrations of different aspects, symbols and persons including some from the Fortean Picture Library, which is Raymond Buckland's own collection.

I found this to be an interesting collection of material. From movies to magic, Mr. Buckland included it all in one very nicely presented volume which would enhance any coffee table or library. And while I would really have liked to have seen Mr. Buckland's reviews of more movies than the few he did review, for the most part it is an eclectic collection of references, persons, events and things that comprise our way of life. boudica

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Witch Book: Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca and Neo-Pa, June 17, 2004

By 

Patricia C. Mcclelland "rugbydeprofundis" (Kansas City, Missouri USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-paganism (Paperback)

Mr. Buckland has certainly done extensive research to put this book together. The encyclopedia includes terms associated with modern Wicca, the mythological witch, movies, and books. It is an all-around thorough book. So, if your curious about the use of mandrake root or you've seen a strange silent film called Hexan or your curious about Aradia the goddess of the witches, this book is probably a good choice for you.