[MR] Book of interest to Scadians

[Garth G. Groff]

Noble friends,

Should any of you take an interest in the history of magic and other 
occult topics during our period, THE BOOK OF ENGLISH MAGIC by Philip 
Carr-Gomm & Richard Heygate may be of great interest (ISBN 
9781848540330; our call # Alderman BF1581 .C37 2009). This book is 
something of a handbook, from a historical perspective, of all things 
arcane in Britain. Here are articles on Druids, Arthurian legends, 
Celtic and Anglo Saxon charms, holy wells, healing herbs, Templers, 
alchemy, tarot, John Dee, etc. It also covers more modern topics such as 
spiritualism, Allister Crowley, and Madam Blavatsky, but we need not 
concern ourselves with those out-of-period topics on this forum. The 
work is well illustrated (all black-and-white) with period engravings, 
reproductions of paintings, maps, and modern photos. It includes 
extensive bibliographical references, and a large index. This book 
appears to be good background material for anyone interested in how 
magic was understood and practiced in merry old England in the middle ages.

Kind regards,


Mungo Napier, Shire of Isenfir's Unofficial Librarian
(mka Garth Groff, UVA Libraries Cataloging Dept.)