About the author
Stephen Gordon is a historian whose work focuses on medieval beliefs about the supernatural. His book Supernatural Encounters: Demons and the Restless Dead in Medieval England, c.1050-1450 (Routledge, editions in 2019 and 2021) examines how belief in demons and revenants shaped the medieval worldview in England, covering figures such as plague-spreading corpses reanimated by the devil, purgatorial spirits seeking prayers, and shape-shifting demons in folklore and chronicle sources. The book approaches these beliefs as part of medieval religious and cultural history rather than as accounts to be taken at face value, situating them within wider currents of theology and popular belief. It is aimed at readers interested in medieval history and the history of supernatural belief rather than practitioners of any tradition.
📖 Where to start with Stephen Gordon
💬 What our editors say about Stephen Gordon's books
“Stephen Gordon delivers a meticulous analysis that bridges the gap between historical record and esoteric experience. The text is rigorous, drawing heavily from primary sources to show how spectral narratives critiqued…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Supernatural Encounters: Demons and the Restless Dead in Medieval England, C.1050-1450 Gordon, Stephen
“Gordon provides an illuminating study that meticulously dissects the medieval English psyche, revealing how encounters with the supernatural deeply embedded themselves in society. While the analysis of writers like chroniclers…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Supernatural Encounters: Demons and the Restless Dead in Medieval England, C.1050-1450 Gordon, Stephen
