Magic in Britain - by Robin Melrose (Paperback)

About the Book

"Magic, both benevolent and malign, has been practiced in the British Isles since at least the Iron Age. The Anglo-Saxons used ritual curses in documents, and wrote spells and charms. When they became Christians, the new "magicians" were saints, who performed miracles. The Church was able to quell the fear of magicians, but Reformation saw its revival"--

Book Synopsis

Magic, both benevolent (white) and malign (black), has been practiced in the British Isles since at least the Iron Age (800 BCE-CE 43). "Curse tablets"--metal plates inscribed with curses intended to harm specific people--date from the Roman Empire. The Anglo-Saxons who settled in England in the fifth and sixth centuries used ritual curses in documents, and wrote spells and charms.

When they became Christians in the seventh century, the new "magicians" were saints, who performed miracles. When William of Normandy became king in 1066, there was a resurgence of belief in magic. The Church was able to quell the fear of magicians, but the Reformation saw its revival, with numerous witchcraft trials in the late 16th and 17th centuries.

Review Quotes

"Melrose presents a concise historical survey of magic practices in Britain. Using archaeological and written sources, Melrose explores how magic was practiced from Britain's Iron Age through the Reformation.... The work is entertaining, insightful, and well researched, offering an excellent overview of the development and practice of magic throughout Britain's history.... recommended"-Choice

"The author allows the reader to see how the relationship between magic and the church changed over time...a collection of fascinating stories about people, places, and practices"-Booklist

"Well-researched presentation of each category of magical practice connected to its geographical and archeological roots. For every category discussed in Melrose's work, he provides an extensive exploration of its people and place names, demonstrating an encyclopedic knowledge of British geography and early British history"-SMART: Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Teaching

About the Author

Robin Melrose is a retired senior lecturer in English and linguistics at England's University of Portsmouth. He lives on the Isle of Wight in southern England.