Witchcraft and Magic in Europe, Volume 5: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries - Ingram Academic Ankarloo, Bengt by Ankarloo, Bengt; , Clark, Stuart

Witchcraft and Magic in Europe, Volume 5: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries - Ingram Academic Ankarloo, Bengt — photo 1

Witchcraft & Wicca

Witchcraft and Magic in Europe, Volume 5: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries - Ingram Academic Ankarloo, Bengt

Name: Witchcraft and Magic in Europe, Volume 5: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries - Ingram Academic Ankarloo, Bengt
Price: 40.00 USD
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Rating: 4.6 (2 reviews)
Author: Ankarloo, Bengt; , Clark, Stuart
ISBN: 9780812217063

Ankarloo, Bengt; , Clark, Stuart

Reader rating

4.6

(1 reviews) 112 sold

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Uncover how Europe shed witch trials, yet remained deeply enchanted by the unseen world.

This pivotal volume in the "Witchcraft and Magic in Europe" series delves into the profound transformations of the 18th and 19th centuries. It meticulously charts the decline of formal witch trials across the continent, investigating the complex social and legal forces at play. Challenging the notion of a purely "disenchanted" age, the text reveals the enduring presence and evolving forms of supernatural belief, from its vital role in community life to the burgeoning Victorian fascination with the occult. Expert scholars combine historical analysis with cultural anthropology, offering a nuanced portrait of a world still deeply entwined with magic.

Key themes

End of Witch Trials Persistent Supernatural Beliefs Social Magic & Victorian Occult

Historical context

This volume serves as a crucial continuation of the comprehensive 'Witchcraft and Magic in Europe' series, focusing on the transitional period between the early modern and modern eras. It bridges the gap between the era of formal judicial persecution and the rise of spiritualism by examining how magical beliefs evolved during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Ankarloo, Bengt; , Clark, Stuart

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🌙 Witchcraft & Wicca

🏛 University of Pennsylvania Press 📅 1999 📖 288 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9780812217063

Fun fact

This volume masterfully dissects a pivotal era, compellingly arguing against a simplistic "disenchantment" narrative. Its strength lies in its interdisciplinary rigor, offering fresh perspectives on how magic persisted socially and evolved into Victorian spiritualism. While indispensable for serious scholars and those open to complex historical truths, readers anticipating a sensationalist account of witch trials might be disappointed. It stands as a vital contribution, profoundly reshaping our understanding of European magic's modern trajectory.

📝 Description: Witchcraft and Magic in Europe, Volume 5: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries - Ingram Academic Ankarloo, Bengt

The roots of European witchcraft and magic lie in Hebrew and other ancient Near Eastern cultures and in the Celtic, Nordic, and Germanic traditions of the Continent. For two millennia, European folklore and ritual have been imbued with the belief in the supernatural, yielding a rich trove of histories and images. A series that combines traditional approaches of political, legal, and social historians with critical syntheses of cultural anthropology, historical psychology, and gender studies, Witchcraft and Magic in Europe provides a modern, scholarly survey of the supernatural beliefs of Europeans from ancient times to the present day. Each of the six volumes in the series contains the work of distinguished scholars chosen for their expertise in a particular era or region. The eighteenth century saw the end of witch trials everywhere. The authors chart the process of and reasons for the decriminalization of witchcraft, but also challenge the widespread assumption that Europe then became "disenchanted." Here for the first time are surveys of the social role of witchcraft in European communities, as well as a full treatment of Victorian supernaturalism and of the continued importance of witchcraft and magic as topics of debate among intellectuals and other writers. Other volumes in the series Witchcraft and Magic in Europe: Ancient Greece and Rome The Twentieth Century Biblical and Pagan Societies The Middle Ages The Period of the Witch Trials

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This academic work offers a rigorous, scholarly examination of how Europe navigated the decline of witch trials while maintaining deep supernatural engagement. It is not suitable for casual readers seeking sensational ghost stories or practical spellcasting instructions. The dense analysis of legal and social forces may overwhelm those unfamiliar with cultural anthropology or early modern history. However, for those committed to understanding the intellectual and societal underpinnings of magical belief during the 18th and 19th centuries, it provides a nuanced, expertly researched portrait that corrects common misconceptions about the 'disenchantment' of the era.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Scholars and enthusiasts of esoteric history will find this text invaluable for understanding the nuanced shift in European supernatural beliefs. It challenges the simplistic narrative of a purely disenchanted age, revealing how magic persisted in community life and Victorian occultism. Readers seeking to grasp the complex social forces behind the decline of witch trials will appreciate the expert synthesis of historical analysis and cultural anthropology. This book is essential for anyone interested in the enduring human fascination with the unseen world and the intellectual transition from trial-based persecution to modern magical practice.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're fascinated by the shifting landscape of magical belief and its societal impact, or wish to challenge simplistic narratives of "enlightenment," this volume is essential. It offers a sophisticated, interdisciplinary perspective for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of European cultural…

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This academic work offers a rigorous, scholarly examination of how Europe navigated the decline of witch trials while maintaining deep supernatural engagement. It is not suitable for casual readers seeking sensational ghost stories or practical spellcasting instructions. The dense analysis of legal and social forces may overwhelm those unfamiliar with cultural anthropology or early modern history. However, for those committed to understanding the intellectual and societal underpinnings of magical belief during the 18th and 19th centuries, it provides a nuanced, expertly researched portrait that corrects common misconceptions about the 'disenchantment' of the era.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While the decriminalization of witchcraft trials is a key theme, this volume extends far beyond courtroom proceedings. It also explores the broader social functions of magic in communities and examines the rise of Victorian supernaturalism.

While part of a comprehensive series, each volume, crafted by specialists in their respective eras, is designed to offer a complete study of its period. You can certainly delve into this one independently, though the full series provides broader context.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

End of Witch Trials

Explore the complex historical processes that led to the abolition of witchcraft trials across Europe. This volume meticulously analyzes the legal, political, and social factors that reshaped perceptions of magic and criminality, marking a significant turning point in the continent's relationship with the supernatural.

Persistent Supernatural Beliefs

Contrary to popular belief, this work argues that the 18th and 19th centuries were far from "disenchanted." It illustrates how beliefs in the supernatural persisted and adapted, playing crucial roles in European communities and evolving into new forms, such as the widespread Victorian interest in the occult.

Social Magic & Victorian Occult

Discover how magic and witchcraft functioned within European societies even after decriminalization. The book also provides a comprehensive examination of the burgeoning Victorian supernaturalism, exploring its various manifestations and its significance in a rapidly modernizing world, from spiritualism to esoteric societies.

💬 Quotes from the book

“The cessation of judicial witch hunts did not signify a sudden evaporation of the magical worldview, but rather its complex metamorphosis into new social expressions.”

“By fusing legal history with the insights of cultural anthropology, we unveil how witchcraft, even in decline, retained a vital, if shifting, presence in communal life.”

📜 Historical context

This volume stands as a crucial installment in a landmark scholarly series, tracing the intricate tapestry of European supernatural beliefs from antiquity to the modern era. It distinguishes itself by integrating traditional historical methodologies with cutting-edge insights from cultural anthropology and psychology, offering a comprehensive, multi-faceted understanding of magic's evolving role throughout centuries.

📚 Glossary

Decriminalization
Disenchantment
Victorian Supernaturalism

📔 Questions to reflect on

What does "disenchantment" truly mean in a historical context, and how might this book challenge conventional understandings of it?
Consider how the social role of magic might persist and adapt within a community, even after its legal persecution has ended.
In what ways do modern esoteric movements or spiritual practices echo, or diverge from, the Victorian supernaturalism explored in this volume?