Grimoires

1. Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-0-19-959004-9
Verlag: Oxford University Press

Buch, Englisch, 384 Seiten, Format (B × H): 136 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 491 g

The first ever history of magic books - or grimoires - from the ancient Middle East to Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Covers all types of grimoire - from harmless charms and remedies to sinister spells and pacts with the Devil
The history of grimoires is more than just the history of magic - it illuminates many of the most important developments in European history, from the spread of Christianity to the settlement of the New World

What is a grimoire? The word has a familiar ring to many people, particularly as a consequence of such popular television dramas as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed. But few people are sure exactly what it means.

Put simply, grimoires are books of spells that were first recorded in the Ancient Middle East and which have developed and spread across much of the Western Hemisphere and beyond over the ensuing millennia. At their most benign, they contain charms and remedies for natural and supernatural ailments and advice on contacting spirits to help find treasures and protect from evil. But at their most sinister they provide instructions on how to manipulate people for corrupt purposes and, worst of all, to call up and make a pact with the Devil. Both types have proven remarkably resilient and adaptable and retain much of their relevance and fascination to this day.

But the grimoire represents much more than just magic. To understand the history of grimoires is to understand the spread of Christianity, the development of early science, the cultural influence of the print revolution, the growth of literacy, the impact of colonialism, and the expansion of western cultures across the oceans. As this book richly demonstrates, the history of grimoires illuminates many of the most important developments in European history over the last two thousand years.

Zielgruppe

All those interested in the history of magic and what it tells us about European history over the last two thousand years

Autoren/Hrsg.

Davies, Owen

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Alternative Glaubensformen Okkultismus und andere religiöse Praktiken

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction
1: Ancient and Medieval Grimoires
2: The War against Magic
3: Enlightenment and Treasure
4: Across the Oceans
5: Rediscovering Ancient Magic
6: Grimoires USA
7: Pulp Magic
8: Lovecraft, Satan, and Shadows
9: Epilogue
Further Reading
Notes
Index

Über Autor(innen)

Owen Davies, Department of Humanities, University of Hertfordshire