Witchcraft and Black MagicWhat is witchcraft? Who was the first witch? How does one become a practitioner of the "black arts?" These and many other questions are fully answered in this fascinating, expertly written historical overview of witchcraft and black magic. The work of noted English historian, essayist, critic, and biographer Montague Summers (1880 - 1948), one of the world's foremost authorities on the occult, the book draws on a wealth of diverse sources — from the Bible and literary classics to personal memoirs, correspondence, and court records — to explore the mysteries of sorcery and demonology. Beginning with a definition of witchcraft, the author offers meticulous, thoroughly researched discussions of ceremonial practices, the casting of spells and conjuring practices, the use of wax images and figures, celebration of the Black Mass, the functions of incubi and succubi, the "evil eye," necromancy, the Sabbat, and much more. A perplexing and puzzling figure during his lifetime, Summers maintained a sincere belief in the supernatural phenomena he so accurately described. These strong convictions helped to motivate the painstaking scholarship and devotion to detail of his works, including this highly regarded volume. Originally published in 1946, and hailed by critic H. L. Mencken as "learned, honest, and amusing," Summers's book is an indispensable resource for any devotee or student of the occult and the supernatural. |
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abominable ancient Angels Anne Boleyn appear astrologer authority Barrett believed Bishop black art black magic black mass blasphemy blood body burned cabbalistic called century ceremonies chapter charms Church communion confessed conjurations coven cult curious dark dead death demons Devil diabolical divination Ebenezer Sibly English evil spirits familiar spirits famous father foul Francis Barrett Grand Master grimoire Guazzo hand heaven hell hideous Holy horrible horrid Host human incubus infernal invocation kind King known large number learned living Lord magicians Malleus Maleficarum Manichees manuscript murder mysterious natural necromancer necromancy notorious Obeah occult pact persons Petit Albert Philosophy Pietro d'Abano poisons practice priest reign Restif ritual Rome sabbat Sacrament Satan Satanists says secret seems Sibly Sibylline Books sorcery speaks spells thing tion treatise unto warlock whilst whole wicked witch witchcraft wizard woman words worship wretched writes Zoroaster