How many titles are in this series?

We currently stock three distinct volumes in the Magic in History series. Each book focuses on a specific era or region, providing a broad overview of historical magical practices without requiring the purchase of additional related titles.

Which book should I start with?

For a foundational understanding of medieval legal frameworks surrounding magic, start with Forbidden Rites by Richard Kieckhefer. It provides essential context for understanding how necromancy was prosecuted, making it a logical entry point before exploring more specialized topics like astral magic.

Do the books need to be read in order?

No, the books stand entirely alone. They are independent academic works covering different subjects and time periods. You may read them in any order that interests you, whether you prefer studying Russian divination or medieval treatises on planetary magic first.

Reading order & editions

Magic in History: Esoteric Texts Series

16 books in the catalog · Penn State University Press

Spiritual and Demonic Magic: From Ficino to Campanella

Binding Words: Textual Amulets in the Middle Ages

Unlocked Books: Manuscripts of Learned Magic in the Medieval Libraries of Central Europe (Revised)

Series authors

Writers represented in Magic in History

A short note on each author and their books in this series.

Frank Klaassen

3 books in the series

All books by this author →

Richard Kieckhefer

1 book in the series

All books by this author →

D P Walker

1 book in the series

All books by this author →

Series reading order: Magic in History

1 Ritual Magic · 1998 $40.95 View →
2 Spiritual and Demonic Magic: From Ficino to Campanella · 2001 $40.95 View →
3 Binding Words: Textual Amulets in the Middle Ages · 2006 $50.95 View →
4 Unlocked Books: Manuscripts of Learned Magic in the Medieval Libraries of Central Europe (Revised) · 2010 $47.95 View →
5 Magic in the Cloister: Pious Motives, Illicit Interests, and Occult Approaches to the Medieval Universe · 2015 $42.95 View →
6 The Transformations of Magic: Illicit Learned Magic in the Later Middle Ages and Renaissance · 2015 $39.95 View →
7 Magic in the Modern World: Strategies of Repression and Legitimization · 2018 $39.95 View →
8 Making Magic in Elizabethan England: Two Early Modern Vernacular Books of Magic · 2019 $26.99 View →
9 Making Magic in Elizabethan England: Two Early Modern Vernacular Books of Magic · 2021 $29.95 View →
10 The Long Life of Magical Objects: A Study in the Solomonic Tradition · 2021 $39.95 View →
11 Kabbalah and Sex Magic: A Mythical-Ritual Genealogy · 2022 $34.95 View →
12 Speculum Lapidum: A Renaissance Treatise on the Healing Properties of Gemstones · 2023 $15.99 View →
13 Disenchanting Albert the Great: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Magician · 2024 $54.95 View →
14 Forbidden Rites: A Necromancer's Manual of the Fifteenth Century $36.95 View →
15 Picatrix: A Medieval Treatise on Astral Magic $39.95 View →
16 The Bathhouse at Midnight: An Historical Survey of Magic and Divination in Russia $47.95 View →

Welcome to our curated collection of Magic in History, a scholarly line dedicated to preserving the intellectual heritage of Western esotericism. Each volume offers rigorous academic analysis of primary sources, translating complex historical contexts into accessible narratives for the modern reader. This series is united by its commitment to historical accuracy and depth. We feature works that examine necromancy, astral magic, and regional divination practices. It is ideal for researchers, occultists, and history enthusiasts seeking credible, well-researched texts rather than fictionalized accounts.

How to read the series

Since these are independent scholarly studies rather than a narrative sequence, reading order is flexible. However, we recommend beginning with Forbidden Rites to understand the legal persecution of necromancy in the fifteenth century. Picatrix offers a complementary view on astral influences, while The Bathhouse at Midnight provides a distinct cultural perspective on Russian divination.