Witchcraft and Black Magic [Paperback]

Montague Summers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 2000

Intriguing, thoroughly researched volume provides expert historical view of demonology and the occult, drawing information from the Bible, literary classics, personal memoirs, correspondence, and court records. Scholarly, yet highly readable study defines witchcraft, then examines ceremonial practices, the casting of spells and conjuring, celebration of the Black Mass, and much more. A masterfully written work for anyone interested in supernatural phenomena, this book has been hailed by critic H. L. Mencken as "learned, honest, and amusing."

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Reprint edition (March 27, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486411257
• ISBN-13: 978-0486411255
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,668,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Witchcraft
  • #86 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Wicca

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Another Work on Witchcraft from the Rev Montague Summers, November 26, 2002

By 

Matthew S. Schweitzer "zohoe" (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Witchcraft and Black Magic (Paperback)

This is yet another treatise on the history of witchcraft and the occult by the ubiquitous early 20th century occult writer Montague Summers. This work, originally published in 1946, just two years before Summers' death, deals with more of the same material Summers covers better in his earlier work "History of Witchcraft and Demonology". Here he further covers witchcraft and occult lore and superstition, the history of witchcraft from anicent to early modern times, including the period of the witchcraze. He vividly includes such scadalous and lurid topics as diabolic pacts with Satan, invocation and copulation with demons, necromancy, and all the attendant myths and legends passed down through history corncerning these subjects. As an occult or witchcraft history, while quite interesting, this is really ground covered before by Summers and others. Summers himself was a eccentric but devoted occult historian who wrote many books on this and related subjects such as vampires, werewolves, and edited and translated several important early demonology and witchcraft texts such as the "Malleus Maleficarum", "Compendium Maleficarum", "The Discovery of Witchcraft", and others. His credulity and fanaticism calls his scholarship into question and his translations of many works are considered suspect. Despite these shortcomings, Summers was, to say the least, an interesting and prolific author.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Trying to be Fair, November 10, 2004

By 

paul mason "dedarkone" (Barrie On) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Witchcraft and Black Magic (Paperback)

Granted this book was published in 1946 I believe. Anyway it is not the most up to date treatise ever on the subject, which is what I had to bear in mind as I read it.
The preface and first chapter tie witchcraft to Satanism in a very no holds barred manner, brooking no debate. Even though I am not a practising witch or wiccan I found that offensive until I reminded myself on Summer's background and the age of text.

This is a history of witchcraft and Black magic and is interesting in that even though some chapter headings confused me as it took awhile for Summers to broach the various headings subjects. In other words it seemed like chapters were not neccessarily about descriptive paragraph headings.

This is an interesting history and Summers is quite extensive in his subject matter covered my other critique would be the absence of Aleister Crowley's absence from these pages.

Still an interesting and somewhat educational read.

15 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars NOT VERY READABLE, January 4, 2001

By 

Adolf Yew "mr_hyde_sg" (commonwealth close, . Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Witchcraft and Black Magic (Paperback)

This book is more concern with the history and folklore of witchcraft. So if you are looking for a "How-To" book on witchcraft you're bound to be disappointed. The book is written in a very formal, dry manner. It is too 'academic' and 'heavy' for an inspirational or even a casual read. Not recommended for the uninitiated or beginner. On the plus side, this book is factually accurate.