March 1, 2017
Part of the Oxford Illustrated History series, this volume on witchcraft and magic takes an academic look at how the two concepts changed over time and what their history tells us about how societies formed and changed over time. Magic and witchcraft have a 5,000-year history and span all 7 continents, but Davies' work focuses primarily on the Mediterranean and European world. While one of the nine signed essays in the volume covers the famous witch trials, a goal of the book is to broaden people's understanding of witchcraft and magic to encompass its rich history before the trials as well as its cultural relevancy to date. Additional essays include Magic in the Ancient World, The Witch and Magician in European Art, The Rise of Modern Magic, and Witches on Screen. Fascinating images are found throughout, from dark and disturbing depictions of witches in art to artifact photos, including one of a pierced animal heart. As per usual for the series, this volume is thorough in its coverage. From the rise of demonology in the Middle Ages to the appearance of Samantha on Bewitched, the contributors cover a lot of ground here. Appropriate for any library where there is an interest in magic and the occult.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)