Leo Ruickbie is a sociologist and historian specializing in witchcraft, Wicca, magic, and the occult. His work delves into the fascinating aspects of modern witchcraft and Renaissance magic, exploring the historical and social contexts of these phenomena. He offers insights into their development and impact, bringing these often-misunderstood subjects to a wider audience. Ruickbie's research provides a scholarly yet accessible examination of magical traditions.
Today witchcraft is on everyone's lips, on television, in film and in literature, but few know, or are even able to guess at, its shadowy history. This in-depth investigation discovers how the ideas we have about witchcraft took shape thousands of years ago in the myths and religions of the ancient world.
The mechanised slaughter of the First World War brought a sudden and concentrated interest in life after death. This book explores the role of spiritualism, superstition and the supernatural during and after that war.
Exploring the life of a 16th-century figure who claimed mastery over forbidden magical arts, this biography reveals the true story behind the famed legend of Faustus. Far from being a mere charlatan or devil's accomplice, he sparked scandal and controversy, rivaling miracles attributed to Jesus. The narrative takes readers through a rich historical landscape, including alchemical labs, war-torn Italy, and the Reformation in Wittenberg, providing a vivid portrayal of an era and a man whose life was as captivating as any legend.
An illustrated encyclopedia of fabulous beasts, mythical monsters and cryptozoological mysteries