Description
'a brilliant history' The Sunday Times 'makes for riveting reading' The Independent Modern pagan witchcraft is arguably the only fully-formed religion England has given the world, and has now spread across four continents. This second edition of The Triumph of the Moon extensively revises the first full-scale scholarly study of modern pagan witchcraft. Ronald Hutton examines the nature and development of this religion, and offers a history of attitudes to witchcraft, paganism and magic in British society since 1800. Its pages reveal village cunning folk, Victorian ritual magicians, classicists and archaeologists, leaders of woodcraft and scouting movements, Freemasons, and members of rural secret societies. We also find some of the leading figures of English literature, from the Romantic poets to W. B. Yeats, D. H. Lawrence and Robert Graves, as well as the main personalities who have represented pagan witchcraft to the public world since 1950. Thriller writers like Dennis Wheatley, and films and television programmes, get similar coverage, as does tabloid journalism. The material is by its nature often sensational, and care is taken throughout to distinguish fact from fantasy, in a manner not previously applied to most of the stories involved. Meticulously researched, The Triumph of the Moon presents an authoritative insight into an aspect of modern cultural history which has attracted sensational publicity but has hitherto been little understood. This edition incorporates new research carried out by the author as well as research by others who have been inspired by this book over the twenty years since its first publication.
About the Author
Ronald Hutton is senior Professor of History at the University of Bristol, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, the Society of Antiquaries, the Learned Society of Wales, and the British Academy. He is the historian on the board of trustees which runs English Heritage, and chair of the Blue Plaques panel which awards commemorative plaques to historic buildings. He has published sixteen books and eighty-one essays on a wide range of subjects including British history between 1400 and 1700, ancient and modern paganism in Britain, the British ritual year, and Siberian shamanism. His previous publications include Rise and Fall of Merry England (OUP 1994), Stations of the Sun (OUP 1996; current ed. 2001), and The Witch: A History of Fear from Ancient Times to the Present (Yale University Press 2017).
Reviews
Hutton's book is a must-read not only for anyone interested in modern Paganism, or the occult, but it also embodies a deep insight into the development of British society and culture. * Pavel Horak, Czech Academy of Sciences, Religious Studies Review *
It is to the credit of Ronald Hutton that he has documented its history so clearly and recognises its spiritual value to so many people. * Paula Dempsey, Fortean Times *
Review from previous edition this work ... makes for excellent reading. Hutton's extensive scholarship allows him to make and clarify connections between people and movements in recent centuries. * Northern Earth, No.83 *
spirited, amusing and immensely informative ... Hutton's exceptional work is by far the most scholarly, comprehensive and judicious analysis of the subject yet published. It will remain the standard for many years to come. * Publishers Weekly *
A remarkable book ... passionate yet written with calm and clarity ... a passionate, important and consistently fascinating book. * Journal of Ecclesiastical History *
The Triumph of the Moon, which is densely argued and heavily annotated, leaves little doubt that the history which modern occultism has constructed for itself is bunk ... It all makes for riveting reading and, despite Hutton's demolition of the supposed lineage of witchcraft, I am tempted after reading his book to become a witch myself. * Robert Irwin, The Independent *
Hutton's book is excellent ... Hutton uses his historical skills to tease apart some of the themes in this popular rural romanticism, and to locate their purely modern origin. * T. M. Luhrmann, Times Literary Supplement *
Hutton's professional expertise shows paganism in a new light * Katrina Dixon, The Scotsman *
An excellent study of the only religion England gave the world: pagan witchcraft. Scholarly and incisive, writing with verve and passion, Hutton exposes the Victorian fascination with the pagan ... Hutton writes a brilliant history of a faith that draws on ancient texts yet speaks to present concerns. * Kevin Sharpe, The Sunday Times *
Book Information
ISBN 9780198870371
Author Ronald Hutton
Format Paperback
Page Count 544
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 532g
Dimensions(mm) 214mm * 134mm * 41mm
About the Author
Ronald Hutton is senior Professor of History at the University of Bristol, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, the Society of Antiquaries, the Learned Society of Wales, and the British Academy. He is the historian on the board of trustees which runs English Heritage, and chair of the Blue Plaques panel which awards commemorative plaques to historic buildings. He has published sixteen books and eighty-one essays on a wide range of subjects including British history between 1400 and 1700, ancient and modern paganism in Britain, the British ritual year, and Siberian shamanism. His previous publications include Rise and Fall of Merry England (OUP 1994), Stations of the Sun (OUP 1996; current ed. 2001), and The Witch: A History of Fear from Ancient Times to the Present (Yale University Press 2017).
Reviews
Hutton's book is a must-read not only for anyone interested in modern Paganism, or the occult, but it also embodies a deep insight into the development of British society and culture. * Pavel Horak, Czech Academy of Sciences, Religious Studies Review *
It is to the credit of Ronald Hutton that he has documented its history so clearly and recognises its spiritual value to so many people. * Paula Dempsey, Fortean Times *
Review from previous edition this work ... makes for excellent reading. Hutton's extensive scholarship allows him to make and clarify connections between people and movements in recent centuries. * Northern Earth, No.83 *
spirited, amusing and immensely informative ... Hutton's exceptional work is by far the most scholarly, comprehensive and judicious analysis of the subject yet published. It will remain the standard for many years to come. * Publishers Weekly *
A remarkable book ... passionate yet written with calm and clarity ... a passionate, important and consistently fascinating book. * Journal of Ecclesiastical History *
The Triumph of the Moon, which is densely argued and heavily annotated, leaves little doubt that the history which modern occultism has constructed for itself is bunk ... It all makes for riveting reading and, despite Hutton's demolition of the supposed lineage of witchcraft, I am tempted after reading his book to become a witch myself. * Robert Irwin, The Independent *
Hutton's book is excellent ... Hutton uses his historical skills to tease apart some of the themes in this popular rural romanticism, and to locate their purely modern origin. * T. M. Luhrmann, Times Literary Supplement *
Hutton's professional expertise shows paganism in a new light * Katrina Dixon, The Scotsman *
An excellent study of the only religion England gave the world: pagan witchcraft. Scholarly and incisive, writing with verve and passion, Hutton exposes the Victorian fascination with the pagan ... Hutton writes a brilliant history of a faith that draws on ancient texts yet speaks to present concerns. * Kevin Sharpe, The Sunday Times *
Book Information
ISBN 9780198870371
Author Ronald Hutton
Format Paperback
Page Count 544
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 532g
Dimensions(mm) 214mm * 134mm * 41mm
