Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft

Description Interest in witchcraft, magic, and the occult is strong, fuelled by popular books and movies. Witchcraft as a religion has exploded in recent years. Leading to a boom in books pertaining to spells, witchcraft, and Wicca. Though witchcraft has a long history both in folklore and in practice, the truth about it has often been obscured by fiction and myth. Covering both historical witchcraft (particularly the witch trials of Reformation Europe and Colonial America) and contemporary witchcraft and Wiccan and pagan practice in over 500 detailed, clearly written, alphabetically arranged entries of various lengths. Incorporates new historical research on the origins of witchcraft and expands coverage of the modern revival, its most influential leaders, the organizations, and their practices. More than 100 black-and-white illustrations augment the text. In more than 480 entries, The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft is an exciting landmark references on the subject. Unparalleled coverage of witchcraft practices around the world. Spanning different time periods and societies. Entries on magic, shamanism, the occult, and wizardry. This encyclopedia is perfect for casual readers and those fascinated by this spellbinding topic. All content has been expanded considerably, providing updates and new information about the key topics of witchcraft. Vintage 1999