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Modern Magic
Maximilian Schele de Vere was a professor of modern languages at the University of Virginia and a founding member of the American Philological Society.
Schele de Vere wrote many articles on a variety of subjects for national journals during the 1870s and 1880s. In 1873, he published an essential volume on the occult, "Modern Magic".
Using various types of occult practices, Vere sheds a light on the types of magic and necromancy practised during the time this book was written. He draws on many sources and educates everyone in where these types of forms came from, who are the major players and how they are being practised in his time.
Schele de Vere wrote many articles on a variety of subjects for national journals during the 1870s and 1880s. In 1873, he published an essential volume on the occult, "Modern Magic".
Using various types of occult practices, Vere sheds a light on the types of magic and necromancy practised during the time this book was written. He draws on many sources and educates everyone in where these types of forms came from, who are the major players and how they are being practised in his time.
284 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2007
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 27, 2020
An interesting review of old world traditions and accounts of unexplainable phenomenon. However the interchanging of events considered Christian miracle and pagan magic is very blurred and ill defined.
However it does provide interesting history into the unexplained, the early years of spiritualism, and an interesting account of the accomplishments of Saints, witches, and mystics alike.
Biased from a Christian perspective of course as was traditional for its time (a considerable amount of biblical references were used) and origins, but honest in some cases that the end results of certain traditions and occurrences were undeniably unexplainable and therefore quite possibly supernatural outside of Christianity. A wealth of accounts and knowledge with a vast bibliography, but I cannot attest to the trustworthiness of those referenced having not read the accounts in full. The accounts of unexplained occurrences, again, are biased as well as very quickly explained, which makes one wonder how much more detail there is in the original works it references.
This is an old book, which means much of the information within is lacking accuracy, has very archaic terminology, and has incomplete historical and scientific understanding (sometimes the science and rational explained within is comical).
However, it is still a fascinating read and gives a good overview of what early peoples across nations considered “magic” and “miracle”. I would recommend this as a good early history of unusual phenomena, but would not consider it a sole reference on the matter and might suggest more contemporary work for a better wholistic view of such occurrences.
However it does provide interesting history into the unexplained, the early years of spiritualism, and an interesting account of the accomplishments of Saints, witches, and mystics alike.
Biased from a Christian perspective of course as was traditional for its time (a considerable amount of biblical references were used) and origins, but honest in some cases that the end results of certain traditions and occurrences were undeniably unexplainable and therefore quite possibly supernatural outside of Christianity. A wealth of accounts and knowledge with a vast bibliography, but I cannot attest to the trustworthiness of those referenced having not read the accounts in full. The accounts of unexplained occurrences, again, are biased as well as very quickly explained, which makes one wonder how much more detail there is in the original works it references.
This is an old book, which means much of the information within is lacking accuracy, has very archaic terminology, and has incomplete historical and scientific understanding (sometimes the science and rational explained within is comical).
However, it is still a fascinating read and gives a good overview of what early peoples across nations considered “magic” and “miracle”. I would recommend this as a good early history of unusual phenomena, but would not consider it a sole reference on the matter and might suggest more contemporary work for a better wholistic view of such occurrences.
Displaying 1 of 1 review