The Book of English Magic
Published on 11. June 2009
Book
Hardback
576 pages
978-1-84854-033-0 (ISBN)
Description
The Book of English Magic explores the curious and little-known fact that of all the countries in the world, England has the richest history of magical lore and practice. English authors such as J.R.R.Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Terry Pratchett, and J.K.Rowling, dominate the world of magic in fiction, but from the earliest times, England has also acted as home to generations of eccentrics and scholars who have researched and explored every conceivable kind of occult art. Most people are torn between a fascination with magic and an almost instinctive fear of the occult, of a world redolent with superstition and illusion. And yet more people now practise magic in England than at any time in her history. The Book of English Magic explores this hidden story, from its first stirrings to our present-day fascination with all things magical. Along the way readers are offered a rich menu of magical things to do and places to visit.
Reviews / Votes
'A user-friendly primer ... a magical mystery tour, for readers who want to get a little deeper into magic, there are well informed suggestions' -- The Times 'Witchcraft and magic have never been more popular, and England is its global epicentre ... a fabulous array. Fun, best of all is the end' -- Daily Express 'A new book celebrates the growing witchcraft, spells, potions and the spirit world' -- Daily Express 'Darkly glittery package for this survey of mysterious England, the country with the richest history of magical lore and practice in the world' -- Bookseller 'Should be a wizard read' -- Birmingham Post 'A giddying tour of a hidden history and an occult present' -- Books Quarterly 'A positive cornucopia of magic that's sure to cast a spell over you!' -- Lancashire Evening Post 'Playful and serious, respectful and amused...this will remain the standard work for years to come' -- Sunday Telegraph 'This book is never less than gripping...otherworld beckons. Stock up on mistletoe and woad' -- The Daily Mail 'Sometimes we open a book and know straight away that it will become a classic in its field, and "The book of English Magic" is one of these.' -- The Inner Light Magazine 'An astonishing and entertaining book' -- The Northern Echo "Large, cheerful, handsome book...the tone is unflaggingly open-minded" -- Times Literary Supplement "Bright and encouraging" -- The Magic Circular The reader of this book will immediately feel assured that Philip Carr-Gomm and Richard Heygate know what they are talking about. Yes, this book is encyclopaedic in scope and jam-packed with joyous information but it is also informed by lived experience. These men have walked in the woods of midsummer dreams! Stories of the wilder eccentricities of English magic are underpinned, too, by a coherent philosophy of life that is intriguingly close to the broader European tradition of Paracelsus, the Rosicrucians and Rudolf Steiner. -- Mark Booth 'Treasure trove of magical lore' -- The Observer 20100425More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Murray Press
Dimensions
Height: 48 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 240 mm
Weight
1032 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84854-033-0 (9781848540330)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Philip Carr-Gomm is a writer and psychologist. He is trained in psychotherapy for adults and in play therapy for children and has also trained in Montessori education. Sir Richard Heygate runs a successful software company and has a special interest in alternative worlds. He is co-author of Endangered Species, which was published by John Murray in 2007.