Magic

The Basics

Michael D. Bailey

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Paperback

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English

Routledge
01 August 2017

Social & cultural history; Religion: general; Eclectic & esoteric religions & belief systems; Magic, alchemy & hermetic thought; Society & culture: general

Series: The Basics

Magic: The Basics is a concise and engaging introduction to magic in world history and contemporary societies. Presenting magic as a global phenomenon which has manifested in all human cultures, this book takes a thematic approach which explores the historical, social, and cultural aspects of magic.

Key features include:

attempts to define magic either in universal or more particular terms, and to contrast it with other broad and potentially fluid categories such as religion and science;

an examination of different forms of magical practice and the purposes for which magic has been used;

debates about magic’s effectiveness, its reality, and its morality;

an exploration of magic’s association with certain social factors, such as gender, ethnicity and education, among others.

Offering a global perspective of magic from antiquity through to the modern era and including a glossary of key terms, suggestions for further reading and case studies throughout, Magic: The Basics is essential reading for anyone seeking to learn more about the academic study of magic.

By: Michael D. Bailey
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm,
Weight: 206g
ISBN: 9781138809611
ISBN 10: 1138809616
Series: The Basics
Pages: 192
Publication Date: 01 August 2017
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Acknowledgements Introduction: A Magical World Chapter 1: The Meanings of Magic Chapter 2: Magical Acts Chapter 3: Magic Contested and Condemned Chapter 4: Magical Identities Chapter 5: The Reality of Magic Chapter 6: Magic in the Modern World Glossary Further Reading

Michael D. Bailey is Professor of History at Iowa State University. He is founding co-editor of the journal Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft and has published extensively on the history of witchcraft and superstition in medieval Europe.

Reviews for Magic: The Basics

This book offers a clear and very readable guide to the notorious complexities of defining and studying magic, by showing that the very essence of magic, both historically and in the present, lies in its ambiguous and contested character. It is written with lightness and wit, but addresses serious and difficult issues without ever moralising or simplifying. Jonathan Barry, University of Exeter, UK Michael Bailey has written an extremely successful introduction to an elusive and enduring phenomenon. He is an informed and engaging guide and this book will be of great value to those new to the academic study of magic as well as those well established in the field. Justin Meggitt, University of Cambridge, UK ...Bailey has succeeded in creating a fairly easy and accessible read that won't scare off undergraduates-a rarity when it comes to recent works on magic. For both its breadth and accessibility, it is certainly a book that will be worth placing on student reading lists. Ethan Doyle White, University College London, UK