Discover the beguiling history of witchcraft, magic, and superstition through the centuries in this stunningly illustrated title.A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult charts the extraordinary narrative of one of the most interesting and often controversial subjects in the world, covering everything from ancient animal worship and shamanism, through alchemy and divination to modern Wicca and the resurgence of the occult in 21st-century literature, cinema, and television.Providing readers with a comprehensive account of everything from Japanese folklore and Indian witchcraft to the differences between black and white magic, and dispelling myths such as those surrounding the voodoo doll and Ouija, the book explores the common human fascination with spells, superstition, and the supernatural.This riveting read on witchcraft includes: Engaging text and lavish illustrations with over 500 full-colour images that bring the subject to life. Special features on aspects of magic, such as oracle bones of ancient China, the Knights Templar, and magic at the movies, and "plants and potions", such as mandrake and belladonna examine topics in great detail. Quick-fact panels explore magic origins, key figures, key deities, uses in spells, structures of religions, and more. The perfect introduction to magic and the occult, it explores forms of divination from astrology and palmistry to the Tarot and runestones and offers key insights into the ways in which magic has interacted with religion.The most comprehensive illustrated history of witchcraft available, A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult will enthral and fascinate anyone interested in spiritualism and the occult.

Autorentext
Dr Suzannah Lipscomb is Reader in Early Modern History at the University of Roehampton, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. She received her DPhil in History from Balliol College, Oxford; writes a column for History Today; and has written and presented historical documentaries on the BBC, ITV, Channel Five, and National Geographic Channel, including a two-part series on Witches: A Century of Murder. Her books include 1536: The Year that Changed Henry VIII, A Visitor's Companion to Tudor England, and The King is Dead! The Last Will and Testament of Henry VIII.