Magic and Witchcraft: An Illustrated History

by Ruth Clydesdale

" A cogent, straight-talking and nuanced work to aid anyone who wants a solid understanding of the origins and evolution of witchcraft . " - David Southwell, author and curator of @HooklandGuide

From ancient Greece and Rome to the birth of the New Witchcraft, the history of this enthralling subject is skillfully told in this richly illustrated full-color hardback.

Witchcraft was once used to influence the unpredictable aspects of life such as crops, health and livestock protection. With people feeling powerless against ill fortune, it became easy to blame malevolent magic and the figure of the witch. Witchcraft today is a benevolent religion that is unrelated to the historic fantasy, but which often employs ancient magical techniques such as poppets and charms.

This fascinating history enables the reader to see the timeline for how magic and witchcraft - and perceptions of it - has developed over the centuries. From the glamour of witches depicted in art, such as Circe, Medea, Morgan le Fay and Nimue, to famous historical incidents such as the witch trials and Christian suppression of Pagan temples, the reader will be led on a journey of discovery that is as visually exciting as it is informative.

Beautifully illustrated throughout, this book provides a readable and fresh approach to the extensive and complex history of witchcraft and magic.

Genres: Witchcraft

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 3, 2023

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty general overview of witchy history from ancient times up until Wicca. Something that annoyed me was how sentences would be cut off and not continue until a page or three later. When books have a lot of big pictures (with captions), that really irks me. This is mainly a coffee table book with pretty photos to look at, not so much for reading and learning. It's fine for the basics and aesthetics.

[Cristina Ingbritsen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Magic and Witchcraft: An Illustrated History by Ruth Clydesdale was a deeply disappointing read. The book jumps erratically between topics, making it difficult to follow any coherent narrative. Worse still, the layout is incredibly frustrating—imagine trying to read a sentence only to have it interrupted by two full pages of unrelated images.

Beyond the structural issues, the content itself is problematic. Clydesdale repeatedly claims that Wiccans worship a horned god akin to the devil, which is harmful misinformation. Wiccans do not acknowledge or believe in the existence of a purely evil deity. Deities like Hecate or Pan are far more commonly honored, and these depictions are rooted in reverence, not malevolence.

What’s most troubling is the hypocrisy. While attempting to condemn the atrocities of the Salem and European witch trials, Clydesdale perpetuates the same stigmatizing misinformation that fueled them. Her accusation that Wiccans spread falsehoods about the trials is particularly offensive. Wiccans are passionate about researching and sharing historical truths, not perpetuating myths.

This book misses the mark both as a historical resource and as a fair exploration of its subject matter. She completely ignores cultures that had a massive part to play in the history of magic giving her book a racist undertone. I cannot recommend it to anyone genuinely interested in the history or practices of witchcraft and magic.

[Rhiannon-Skye Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very though study of witchcraft through the ages, from very early days of ancient Greece and Rome, to Spanish Inquisition, to Salem Witch Trials and writings that spurred the hysteria, to how it even shaped the Church and how the Church embodied some of the rituals, to times of Industrial, and to modern day time. It is quite the read, and is very well written with a wealth of cited bibliographies, art pieces of eras and picture credits. Ruth Clydesdale dug deep to unearth the historical references found in this book. Well done!

[Natalie Ollis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected from the cover and description. While it covered a lot of topics, it left me wanting more and more information at each point. I enjoyed the objective POV, but wished for more in-depth references and more accurate conclusions.

[Queen Elsa]

Found this more informative than the Oxford very short introduction. The pictures are great too.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

learned some new things, but a lack of direct citation for facts and images was annoying, also noticed many typos. Overall not what I was looking for

[Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting read for people who want to know more of the history witchcraft and how it has evolved throughout history.