From the earliest Paleolithic cave rituals, magic has gripped the imagination. Magic and magicians appear in early Babylonian texts, the Bible, Judaism and Islam. Secret words, spells and incantations lie at the heart of every mythological tradition. Today, magic means many things: contemporary Wicca is practised widely as a modern pagan religion in Europe and the US; 'magic' also evokes the cathartic rituals of Chaos magic, but stretches to include the non-spiritual, rapid-fire sleight of hand performed by slick stage magicians who fill vast arenas.
The Occult, Witchcraft and Magic is packed with authoritative text and a huge and inspired selection of images, chosen from unusual and hidden sources. The material is presented in 100 entries, and includes some of the best-known representations of magic and the occult from around the world.

A complete history of the occult and magic around the world, from ancient to modern times, by the author of the bestselling Monsters

About the Author
Christopher Dell holds a degree in the History of Art from the Courtauld Institute, London. He has written and edited many bestselling titles on art and visual culture, including Freemasonry, Mythology, Monsters and What Makes a Masterpiece?, all published by Thames & Hudson.

Reviews
'Handsomely assembled ... an entertaining tour through this sprawling and tangled history' - Daily Telegraph
'Sumptuously illustrated ... pithy text' - Sunday Telegraph
'A lively and fascinating history of all things cryptic, mystic and other-worldly' - We Make Money Not Art



Book Information
ISBN 9780500518885
Author Christopher Dell
Format Hardback
Page Count 400
Imprint Thames & Hudson Ltd
Publisher Thames & Hudson Ltd
Weight(grams) 1710g