Magic in Britain

A History of Medieval and Earlier Practices

Robin Melrose

$69.30

Paperback

In stock
Ready to ship

QTY:

English

McFarland & Co Inc
30 April 2018

History of religion; Occult studies; Magic, alchemy & hermetic thought; Witchcraft

Magic, which is probably as old as humanity, is a way of achieving goals through supernatural means, either benevolent (white magic) or harmful (black magic). Magic has been used in Britain since at least the Iron Age (800 BC- AD 43) – amulets made from human bone have been found on Iron Age sites in southern England. Britain was part of the Roman Empire from AD 43 to 410, and it is then we see the first written magic, in the form of curse tablets. A good deal of magic involves steps to prevent the restless dead from returning to haunt the living, and this may lie behind the decapitated and prone (face down) burials of Roman Britain. The Anglo-Saxons who settled in England in the 5th and 6th century were strong believers in magic: they used ritual curses in Anglo-Saxon documents, they wrote spells and charms, and some of the women buried in pagan cemeteries were likely practitioners of magic (wicca, or witches). The Anglo-Saxons became Christians in the 7th century, and the new “magicians” were the saints, who with the help of God, were able to perform miracles. In 1066, William of Normandy became king of England, and for a time there was a resurgence of belief in magic. The medieval church was able to keep the fear of magic under control, but after the Reformation in the mid 16th century, this fear returned, with numerous witchcraft trials in the late 16th and 17th centuries.

By: Robin Melrose
Imprint: McFarland & Co Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 254mm, Width: 178mm, Spine: 10mm
Weight: 487g
ISBN: 9781476674001
ISBN 10: 1476674000
Pages: 190
Publication Date: 30 April 2018
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Robin Melrose is a retired senior lecturer in English and linguistics at the University of Portsmouth in England and lives in the UK.

Reviews for Magic in Britain: A History of Medieval and Earlier Practices

Melrose presents a concise historical survey of magic practices in Britain. Using archaeological and written sources, Melrose explores how magic was practiced from Britain's Iron Age through the Reformation.... The work is entertaining, insightful, and well researched, offering an excellent overview of the development and practice of magic throughout Britain's history.... recommended --Choice The author allows the reader to see how the relationship between magic and the church changed over time...a collection of fascinating stories about people, places, and practices --Booklist Well-researched presentation of each category of magical practice connected to its geographical and archeological roots. For every category discussed in Melrose's work, he provides an extensive exploration of its people and place names, demonstrating an encyclopedic knowledge of British geography and early British history --SMART: Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Teaching