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21st out of 49 books
—
4 voters
The Bathhouse at Midnight: An Historical Survey of Magic and Divination in Russia (Magic in History Series)
by
W.F. Ryan
The title of this book refers to the classic time and place for magic, witchcraft, and divination in Russia. The Bathhouse at Midnight, by one of the world's foremost experts on the subject, surveys all forms of magic, both learned and popular, in Russia from the fifth to the eighteenth century. While no book on the subject could be exhaustive, The Bathhouse at Midnight do...more
Paperback, 504 pages
Published
January 1st 1999
by Pennsylvania State University Press
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Encyclopedic is probably the best word for this book. It is laid out as a reference book, though readable enough for a dedicated (or obsessive) person to read cover-to-cover. Ryan's goal is to provide a survey of Russian magic for the non-Slavophone specialist, and he succeeds in his goal. Each chapter covers a different aspect of Russian magic (types of magicians, spells, amulets, etc.) from Kievan Rus' to the present. Ryan has divided each chapter into sections and sub-sections and makes frequ...more
Exceptionally comprehensive and well-researched, very well organised. Possibly best used as a reference guide due to the sheer bulk of information. The introduction gives a solid overview of the topic and lays out the key themes and arguments with clarity - excellent for someone like me whose research interests are tangential to the book's topic.
A comprehensively thorough yet surprisingly accessible read about all sorts of magic and divination in folk belief among Russians through the centuries. If it's not in here, it's likely not available in English anywhere else.
If you want to know about the Evil Eye, or any of that stuff, in Russian folklore -- this is a good book for you.
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