Customer Reviews

Witchcraft: A Secret History

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

 

 

The book that I have read was published in the United States in 2002. It is a BEAUTIFUL book, photographically. It seems to have some magic about it because of it's beauty. It also is THE BEST historical, non-biased view and version of witchcraft that I have read in my 5 years of studying "The Craft of the Wise." The author writes a seemingly accurate (moreso than most) account of Witchcraft and has many words to say of its "re-discovery" of which Gerald Gardner played such a large role. All things considered, this is a the best "academic" book that relates to Witchcraft, especially its latest developments as well as being an "enchanting" study of "The Craft."

It is beautifully pictured, great to read, is decidedly from a witches view wich I don't mind. I haven't read all that many books on history of the craft but I think this covrs all major aspects of the past.

"Witchcraft: A Secret History" is yet another of the popular histories of witchcraft and magic that has hit the bookstores in the past few years. It includes a history of witchcraft and magic from anicent times, including Greco-Roman, Egyptian, and Celtic magic, through the witch crazes of the 15th thru 17th centuries, to modern times. It also includes an excellent chapter on the Salem Witch Trials. The book is written for a decidedly Neo-Pagan/Wiccan audience and includes sections on spells, herbs, and magical implements. While it is nicely illustrated and provides a good introductory background, it really adds nothing new regarding this highly popular subject. One item that I was glad to see was that this volume benefits from recent scholarship in historical witchcraft as, for instance, it refutes the "9 Million Martyrs" myth that seems to get repeated in many popular histories such as this one, as well as the now-discredited "Witch Cult" theories of early 20th century witchcraft author Margaret Murray. This book will provide an enjoyable quick read for the casual reader, but for those interested in a more detailed yet popular introducion to the fascinating and controversial subjects of witchcraft and magic I would recommend Jeffery B. Russell's "History of Witchcraft".

Common knowledge about witchcraft brought to us through the ages has given us only half the story. WITCHCRAFT, A SECRET HISTORY brings to our attention the FULL story- at least so far as research has come today. It doesn't presume anything, so far as it appears, but gives sometimes several theories about the missing facts in history. I noticed a few errors in the typing, grammar marks and such, but as I was so enraptured by the reading I gave hardly a thought to them. Stunning, extremely high quality images run all throughout, giving life to the already illuminative text. Although, (and this seems to happen in quite a few books, oddly enough) I often found myself desperate for more than just a DESCRIPTION of the pictures. A title, artist (if applicable), and year would have been nice! However, I can see the rationale of purchasing this for the pictures alone, they are so magnificent. It was well worth the price I paid for it.

This big colorful history book on witchcraft was a pleasure to view and read.Without belaboring the fact ,that it's a big picture book ,it does have many excellent stories along with them. There were some typos.Example: Vance Randolph,author of the excellent regional history book ,"Ozark Magic"(Dover pub.1940),was repeatedly listed as 'Vince Randolph'.This pictorial history book was much better, well-researched and more even-balanced than say Nigel Cawthorne's 'Witches-History of a Perscution'.The book proved to be worthy of a five-star rating,based on the vast topics and elaborative research presented.

This, so-called "secret" history of witchcraft is a pro-witchcraft book which mentions Christians primarily to show how mean they are by being against witchcraft and Harry Potter. Although, the "author" doesn't come out and say he is an occultist, it can be assumed that he is since witchcraft is written about in such a positive light. Perverts who prance around naked in the moonlight with knives casting spells will love this book. Anyone else should be highly suspicious of the motivations of its author. The religion started by Gerald Gardiner, wicca, is written about. It is told how the satanist Aleister Crowley was very influential to wicca. Crowley, by the way, admitted to raping his children, eating human excrement, having sex with animals and promoted child sacrifice for the best magical rituals. Gardiner was a Crowley fan and met with him and incorporated many of his rituals into his brand new "religion" wicca. Gardiner even boasted that human sacrifice was exploited during one of his coven rituals to a willing subject in the 1940s. The book shows many ugly and disgusting looking people identified as important witches as well as some naked people, robed people and weirdos brandishing knives. It is a terrible book for factual and unbiased information. I'm sure every mother goddess freak, perverts, and witches will love it!