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The Black Arts: A Concise History of Witchcraft, Demonology, Astrology, and Other Mystical Practices Throughout the Ages (Perigee) [Paperback]

Richard Cavendish (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 373 pages
  • Publisher: Perigee Trade (January 1, 1983)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0399500359
  • ISBN-13: 978-0399500350
  • Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #311,237 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:
Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
The driving force behind black magic is hunger for power. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
outward sulphur, rational pneuma, magical theory, magical doctrine, modern occultists, modern astrologers, imitative magic, occult theory, magical link, ceremonial magic, conjure thee, sacred magic, aloes wood
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Old Testament, First Matter, Eliphas Levi, Aleister Crowley, Golden Dawn, Holy Spirit, Key of Solomon, Middle Ages, Sepher Yetzirah, Lord's Prayer, United States, Christian God, Grimoire of Honorius, Great Work, Grimorium Verum, King of Glory, Liber Samekh, Spirit of God, Tree of Life, Virgin Mary, Dion Fortune, Emerald Table, Hermes Trismegistus, Holy Ghost, Julie Thibault
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Citations (learn more)
This book cites 100 books:
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Books on Related Topics (learn more)
 
Modern Magick by Donald Michael Kraig
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The Black Arts: A Concise History of Witchcraft, Demonology, Astrology, and Other Mystical Practices Throughout the Ages (Perigee)
75% buy the item featured on this page:
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$11.53
The Book of Black Magic
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The Book of Black Magic by Arthur Edward Waite Paperback 3.6 out of 5 stars (33)
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The Satanic Bible
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Customer Reviews

34 Reviews
5 star:
 (19)
4 star:
 (9)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (2)
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 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (34 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars History of the Dark Arts told in an entertaining fashion., September 12, 2003
By Lane Fox (Huntsville, AL United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Black Arts: A Concise History of Witchcraft, Demonology, Astrology, and Other Mystical Practices Throughout the Ages (Perigee) (Paperback)
From it's early origins to Thelma and Crowley's Golden Dawn involvement this book is a nice introduction book to the historical aspect of occult studies. This book will hold little value to practicing occultist as it doesn't contain any spell information. I'm a bit disappointed in it's low star ratings from what seem to be from junior occultists. While I don't want to turn this into a review of the reviewers, realize this book isn't a spell book or grimore. Most of the occult studies focused on have western origins, so don't look for much detail of religions reaching the far east. The information builds off of itself and is compiled in a comprehensive manner, so it's better if you accept the book as a whole and don't just waste your time looking up the chapter on alchemy. Reading the whole work shows how the arts relate to each other. This is a pretty good work in my opinion. I was hestitating on giving it 4 stars instead of 3, but the more I think of it the extra star seems deserved.
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45 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars More fun than you should be allowed to have, August 12, 1999
By Dianna Deeley (San Francisco,, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Black Arts: A Concise History of Witchcraft, Demonology, Astrology, and Other Mystical Practices Throughout the Ages (Perigee) (Paperback)
This is one of the best-written, most lucid accounts of black magic that I've read, and believe me, I've read a lot of them. I don't care if Cavendish believes a word of it, his review of what's what is fun.

Usually, the sceptics are too busy de-bunking, and the believers too busy being credulous, so the whole subject ends up being tedious. Unless, of course, you are determined to try some magic yourself, in which case, you will need all the credulity you can muster. Cavendish treats it all with a light hand, and gives a nice overview of the subject.

Have fun. Read this before you plunge into the study of the occult - it'll save you a lot of floundering around.

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35 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The Beauty of being Numb..., April 25, 2000
This review is from: The Black Arts: A Concise History of Witchcraft, Demonology, Astrology, and Other Mystical Practices Throughout the Ages (Perigee) (Paperback)
Being a natural cynic, i ordered this book more with the idea of picking holes in every single arguement it put forward, rather than as a serious interest of mine. When i recieved it, my first reaction was, " my god, what a cheezy cover!". Not being one to judge a book by the proverbial, however, i soon delved into the dubious pleasures inside... and was actually pleasantly surprised. Instead of preaching to the unconverted or unconvertable, Mr Cavendish has put forward a fine, well researched report into many different areas of the "black arts", from numerology to black magic, without sounding pretentious or subscribing to the usual "bow down to your master" playground psychology that these sort of authors usually find themselves hankering after. Hence he makes the book not only readable, but also very enjoyable, and in parts even made me wonder if there was more to all this mumbo-jumbo than first meets the eye. Well done, sir!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
I picked up this book at a local bookstore at the urging of a friend, and quite honestly, I found it a waste of my hard-earned money. Read more
Published 8 months ago by R. Wintermoon

4.0 out of 5 stars Less-Than-Flattering Portrait of the Sorcerer and his Methods
Many reviewers here -- occultists, or would-be occultists -- here have reviewed this as though it were a "how to" book. Read more
Published 18 months ago by J. Whelan

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Book for...
This well written tome is good for the intermediate readers/students of the occult. It is also honest to the reader about numerology's language of vagueness and semi-flattery. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Paul Stuart Taylor

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic
This is a classic. If you are into the occult studies, this book provides an extraordinary research source, from almost all western magic traditions.
Published 23 months ago by Eduardo Neves

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BLACK ARTS
THIS IS A VERY NICE BOOK FOR THOSE WHO SHOW AN INTEREST IN THE BLACK ARTS. WEATHER YOU PRACTICE IT, OR ARE LIKE ME, CURIOUS AND OPEN MINDED, THIS IS A RECOMMENDED BOOK. NADINE
Published on July 15, 2008 by Nadine Sansone

5.0 out of 5 stars The root of all magickal theory...
Let me begin by saying that although this book mostly covers the theories behind so-called "black magic" (i.e. Read more
Published on July 1, 2008 by Whitenoise

5.0 out of 5 stars The Black Arts
An informatative and historical account of Western Magickal Philospohies.
This is an excellent book to use as a beginning point to understanding the mystical aspects of... Read more
Published on August 23, 2007 by Hawkmoon

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Lite Reading for Historical Purposes
Oki, first start, ENOUGH of the Harry Potter BS of using the catch phrase "Dark Arts!!!" It's as the book says it is, BLACK ARTS, sheesh... Read more
Published on February 17, 2007 by Jeremy Angelslaughter

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book. Don't Take is Seriously :-)
I originally purchased this book in 1972 so that I could have the title on my bookshelf as a little joke. Read more
Published on January 29, 2007 by Lawrence Curcio

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent 1960s Pop-Kultural Look at the History of Black Magick +
This book is not heavy-duty reading, on the history of the dark art of Black Magick.Personally,i'm a 'White Witch' and probably deemed 'fluffy' by many head-bangers. Read more
Published on December 26, 2006 by Magickal Merlin

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