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Witchfather: : A Life of Gerald Gardner, Volume 1--Into the Witch Cult Paperback – June 1, 2012
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From his birth into an old family of wealthy Liverpool merchants, through an unconventional upbringing by his flamboyant governess in the resorts of the Mediterranean and Madeira, it tells how, having taught himself to read, his life was changed by finding a book on spiritualism.
- Print length332 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherThoth Publications
- Publication dateJune 1, 2012
- Dimensions6 x 0.7 x 8.9 inches
- ISBN-101870450809
- ISBN-13978-1870450805
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Product details
- Publisher : Thoth Publications (June 1, 2012)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 332 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1870450809
- ISBN-13 : 978-1870450805
- Item Weight : 9.85 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.7 x 8.9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,765,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,971 in Paganism
- #4,371 in Witchcraft Religion & Spirituality
- #4,951 in Magic Studies (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Gerald Gardner was born in Bundensellands just North of Liverpool to William and Lois Gardner. The family had patriarch bought several houses in that new area of Bundenselands also known as the "Glen" The patriarchs name was Joseph. The family made their money making blockstops out of wood in the far east. Later on they made their money in the rubber production business. The Gardners were also involved in the Customs department. As a youngster Gardener was taken with asthma and could not thrive in those English winters. His nanny nicknamed "Com" took all around the mediterranean, and Africa. He has no formal education and thus taught himself to read and write. Com was a real party animal who sported lots of lovers and drank massive amounts of alcohol.
When he was around 18 years of age he interned on a plantation. From the tea plantation he himself went into the lumber and rubber business. While in Malaysia and Borneo Gerald befriended the natives and learned many things about their culture, religion and magic. He bacame an expert an the Malaysian weapon called the Keris. He was an amateur archaeologist who made some importatn finds about Malaysia. Later on he himself would work for British customs and was in charge of enforcing British opium laws. Gerald himself did take bribes.
Towards the end of his career he met Donna and got married. He took leave and used stored up vacation time to retire early. He later moved to New Forest and was involved in a nudist club. He would later meet the witches throught the Rosicrucian Theater in the town of Christchurch. Dafo or eEith Grimes initatiated him. THe book talks about his begining in the Witch cult and about the relations that he formed.
One must remember that Gerald was a trickster who was very capable of stretching the truth and telling tall tales. Sometimes what he said could not be verified. He even bought a doctorate from an Americans Unioversity that had a miserable reputation. yet he also shed light on Malaysia, archaeolgy and witchcraft. Great book if you wanna be come more familiar with the "Father of Modern Witchcraft"
Gerald finally comes back to England where he seeks out open-minded and interesting people like himself. He marries an outsider nurse, discovers the benefits of nudism, talks to spiritualists, and joins a playhouse that celebrates Pagan divinities. Then at last, he meets the witches who take him into their confidence and share their rites with him.
What I found particularly helpful was how the author demonstrates the centrality of Edith Grimes ("Dafo") in Gerald's encountering and embracing of Wicca. This was missing from earlier works that were written about the origins of Wicca when Dafo's identity was still unclear.
I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about this man who "unveiled" and founded England's only indigenous world religion. It is a must-read story that is well-told by Heselton. I am looking forward to reading part two.
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Heselton’s work should be on the book shelves of anyone with an interest in witchcraft and Wicca.
So as a reader interested in the character of what I had believed to be an estimable member of humanity, I'm somewhat disappointed. I wanted to read of the inquiring mind that had experimented with opium based hallucinating drugs, had curbed this weakness with a fascination for nudity, and, as has been more often recorded, had a total belief in Witchcraft.
The author however throughout the whole of this narrative appears to suffer with the same reticence that G.B.G had suffered himself. That being that he tended to leave more unanswered questions at the end, then there was at the beginning.
Für Wicca-Interessierte und auch für initiierte Wicca ein absolutes Must-Have zur Ergänzung der historischen Kenntnisse unserer neu-heidnischen Geschichte.










