"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."
By:
Robin Melrose
Imprint: McFarland & Co Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 254mm,
Width: 178mm,
Spine: 14mm
Weight: 472g
ISBN: 9781476674001
ISBN 10: 1476674000
Pages: 190
Publication Date: 30 April 2018
Recommended Age: From 18 years
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Table of Contents Introduction 1. Human Bones, Amulets and Animals: Magic and Ritual in Iron Age Britain 2. Witchcraft, Curse Tablets and Fear of the Restless Dead: Magic in Roman Britain 3. Germanic Paganism, Magic and Witchcraft in Anglo-Saxon England 4. Paganism, Christianity and the Cult of Saints in Early Northumbria 5. Paganism and Christianity in Early East Anglia and Mercia 6. Paganism and Christianity in the Early Kingdom of Wessex 7. The Kingdom of Wessex, the Vikings, and Pagan Amulets and Christianity in the Danelaw 8. Saints and Magic After the Norman Conquest: Anglo-Saxon Saints 9. New English Saints and Monasteries, and Late Medieval Ritual Curses 10. The Saints of Wales and Scotland: Holy Islands, Ritual Curses and Healing Waters 11. Pagan Magic in Late Medieval Christianity 12. Magic, Cunning-Folk and Witchcraft Trials in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries Conclusion Chapter Notes Bibliography Index
Robin Melrose is a retired senior lecturer in English and linguistics at the University of Portsmouth in England and lives in the UK.
Reviews for Magic in Britain: A History of Medieval and Earlier Practices
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
