Renaissance Tarot Book: A Guide to the Renaissance Tarot (Paperback)

~ (Author) "THE FRENCH HAVE A SAYING, "connaitre le dessus des cartes": to know the underside, the hidden face, of the cards..." (more)
Key Phrases: woodcut card, degli dei, woodcut illustration, Tarot of Marseilles, Renaissance Tarot, Hanged Man (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 194 pages
• Publisher: U.S. Games Systems (July 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088079545X
• ISBN-13: 978-0880795456
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,071,928 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a "companion book" + an indispensible tarot history resource, November 18, 1999

By	Tom L. Waters (Tesuque, NM USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was published to accompany the author's "Renaissance Tarot" deck. But whereas most companion books confine themselves to the deck they are sold with, perhaps folding in generic tarot-reading instructions, this book explores the origins and symbolism of the tarot with such depth that it is an important stand-alone tarot book.

Moving beyond recycled speculation about gypsies, Egyptian mystery cults, and other such exotica, this book goes directly to the source: the culture of Renaissance Italy, which produced the first tarot decks. Williams does not attempt to deliver the definitive "truth" about what the original tarot designers may have had in mind, but he does collect an extraordinary array of "tarot parallels" in art, literature, philosophy, mythology, and folk culture. What emerges is a picture of the enduring archetypal nature of the each of the tarot symbols. Williams shows how deeply embedded these images are in our culture, and how ubquitous and familiar they were to people in 15th century Europe.

The text is supported by hundreds of attractive line drawings, made by the author to illustrate the historic works of art referenced in the text. The book thus becomes a guided tour back in time to the culture that produced the first tarot decks, embued with the author's personal vision and yet faithful to the facts at every turn. There are few books available to give the student a trustworthy and useable account of the meaning of the tarot symbols in their original context. This is one of the best.

Also included are brief descriptions of the cards in the Renaissance Tarot deck, along with divinatory meanings and some instruction on reading the cards. The book's greatest value, however, is in illustrating where the tarot comes from, and deepening and enriching the reader's understanding of the ancient symbols.

Even if you don't use the Renaissance Tarot deck, this book will give you many wonderful insights about the tarot and bring you into a deeper relationship with the cards of your own deck. Highly recommended.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Work of Art, June 5, 2002

By A Customer

This is my first experience with Tarot. I enjoyed reading the book and learning about the history of tarot and ancient mythology.