DK publishing has produced a great reference book for the History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult. This book references many different topics and how views on the history of the occult have changed over time. This book has stunning artwork and depictions of items throughout history.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

More of an introduction to a variety of people and topics over the course of history. Photos and quotes throughout.

From the publisher: 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, balanced, and unbiased 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 fear of, and fascination with spells, superstition, and the supernatural. The perfect introduction to magic and the occult, it explores forms of divination from astrology and palmistry to the Tarot and runestones, mystical plants and potions such as mandrake, the presence of witchcraft in literature from Shakespeare's Macbeth to the Harry Potter series, and how 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 you with its lavish illustrated, accessible entries, whether you are a believer or sceptic.

*****
I was spellbound by this book! It is so well done - from the Introduction by Professor Lipscomb to The End, I could not put this book done. It is visually appealing, intriguing to read and an excellent educational reference. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy in exchange for a fair review, but I'm going to purchase a hardcover for reference - this book is excellent!

Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me a free digital ARC (e-book) of this title. I loved it! A HIstory of Magic, Witchcraft & the Occult by DK was a great read. I love books about the occult and I am proud to add this to my collection. It was interesting to learn about the different eras of magic and what ‘magic’ meant during different periods of history. From the origins of rituals during prehistoric times, to the medieval persecution of witches, and all the way up to the modern resurgence of pagan practices, this book covers so much of the history surrounding the occult arts. I really loved seeing the pieces of art that depicted witches and magic throughout history, and I loved all of the history even more.

A lavishly illustrated introduction to magic and ritual around the world, this volume provides historical context and information for those seeking basic information, and offers details of documents, objects, and art depicting magic for those interested in more detail or visual inspiration. Accessible and informative commentary accompanies each image and provides an overview of various topics in the history of magic.

I don't know about you, but I spent a lot of my childhood flipping through DK Publishing's books, especially their encyclopedias. In fact, one of my favorite books growing up was their herbal remedies book, which I tracked down as an adult. I remember spending every single school trip to the middle school library flipping through the book. Even as a pre-teen, I was called to be a healer. Needless to say, when I saw that they were publishing a book on the history of magic, witchcraft, and the occult, I knew I needed to give the book a read, and I'm glad I did.

A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult is a short, beautifully illustrated history of magical practices around the world since the beginning of man. They cover everything in an unbiased way, completely free of judgment, which I greatly appreciated. Furthermore, this is a concise history book written by historians, not witches. In fact, the authors and consultants are all historians who have specifically studied historical occult practices, making them experts in the field. From Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, who wrote the forward, to Dr. Sophie Page who was consulted throughout the book, each person involved in the writing of A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult has extensively studied magical history from a historian's point of view. In fact, Dr. Sophie Page is well known in the history community for her extraordinary books on magic and witchcraft, particularly European medieval magic and astrology. Needless to say, this book is a refreshing historical take written by experts. I cannot say the same for history lessons in modern books on witchcraft, which are written by witches and often biased toward their personal beliefs.



Like all DK books, this one is beautifully illustrated, with pictures of artwork, crystals, herbs, amulets, and other magical objects from around the world. Each is captioned and explained, helping the reader decipher and interpret the meanings of what is being presented. Its an extremely easy read. Most people could probably flip through the book in a day or two, maybe even in a couple of hours if you really tried. While short, this book is an excellent introduction to magical practices around the world, both historically and in modern times. It is not, however, complete. Because of the breadth of knowledge they are discussing, most sections are very brief in their explanation. This does not, however, detract from the book. In fact, I found myself taking extensive notes on subjects I wished to learn more about. I have a list of 10-15 items I want to spend more time researching, specifically about Nordic traditions. You see, both my mother and father have Swedish and Norwegian roots, and I've felt a deep desire to trace these roots back to magical practices. This book provided me with a ton of great starting points that I am excited to pursue. If you too are wondering where your magical studies should go, I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. It's a great foundation for adults and children alike to figure out which magical practices speak to them as well as a great way to learn the history of modern practices. This gives context and meaning to our work that is otherwise lacking.

I did have one issue with the book: the use of the word g*psy. I know this was likely unintentional and much of the world does not see this word as a slur, but I was disappointed nonetheless considering the context the word was used in. Despite this, I still absolutely loved the book, and highly recommend it to new and seasoned witches alike. You may be surprised by what you learn throughout the pages. A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult is set to be released on August 17th, 2020, but you can preorder a copy of the book now!

Post Date: June 3rd, 2020 at http://www.flyingthehedge.com/2020/06/book-review-history-of-magic-witchcraft.html

This book contains an interesting overview of magic and the occult and how those topics were treated through time and through cultures. You can read about history on whole or focus on a specific time/culture easily.

I loved getting an in-depth view at the history of magic in different civilizations and how these ideas have shifted through the ages. This book reads like a classic DK book that uses timelines and places in order to provide context, but seems more modern and engaging in its layout. I can see many of my students wanting to browse through this book and maybe do some research on the topics included.

First, I thank NetGalley for the ARC! I thought this was a fantastic overview of the history of the occult and magic.

An excellent reference book, presented with DK's signature layout of accessible text, annotated illustrations, and sidebars for deeper context. The book encompasses more than the title leads one to believe, covering the history of spells, charms, divination, ancestor and animal veneration, medicine, mythology, fairy tales, legal and religious trials, Freemasonry, shamanism, spiritualism, voodoo, hypnosis, and much more from prehistoric to modern times.

Early humans, well maybe us too, desired to control their environment. This book tells the story. I found the examples of the Babylonians using sympathetic magic to stop evil or bring a blessing. I often wonder why they would have put their trust in the priests and shamans if the magic didnt really work. Maybe they were in touch with something we have lost? Very interesting.
The illustrations and photos are concise and pertain to the section of discussion in a well thought out manner. Ancient Rome is a time of history that has always captivated me. The section on classical magic answered many questions I had on the religious and magical ideas of the people who lived then. Next I learned a very interesting part about Norse diety and the runes. From there it was on to medieval times and then to the Renaissance. In sequence the author follows with sections on reincarnation and spiritism. Included is a description of The Golden Dawn and Crowley.Much more is covered in an interesting and easy to read and understand way. For anyone wanting to learn about what our ancestors believed in , or anyone who still believes this book will give you lots of phots and ideas for further study. Excellent!