Witchcraft, magic and culture 1736–1951
$61.98
- Paperback
352 pages
- Release Date
31 October 2025
Summary
This classic study remains the definitive account of witchcraft and magic in the centuries following the witch trials.
The Witchcraft Act of 1736 brought an end to witch trials in Britain. But just because the law had changed didn’t mean people had stopped believing. Fear of witches and faith in magic persisted, and people suspected of witchcraft continued to appear in court until the early twentieth century, though by then it was their persecutors who were being put …
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781526192660 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1526192667 |
| Author: | Owen Davies |
| Publisher: | Manchester University Press |
| Imprint: | Manchester University Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 352 |
| Release Date: | 31 October 2025 |
| Weight: | 494g |
| Dimensions: | 234mm x 156mm x 19mm |
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What They're Saying
Critics Review
‘With exemplary energy and imagination, Davies has uncovered vast patches of continuing “superstition” and magical practice, down into the twentieth century.’
Journal of Social History
‘Davies’s researches have revealed a rich, complex and shifting occult culture […] A strong and stimulating study.’
Rural History
‘Owen Davies’s book is particularly welcome and timely… it establishes quite clearly that magical beliefs and practices continued to flourish in Britain for more than two centuries after the repeal of the old witchcraft statute in 1736.’
Journal of Ecclesiastical History
About The Author
Owen Davies
Owen Davies is Professor of Social History at the University of Hertfordshire. He is the author of numerous books, including Folklore: A Journey through the Past and Present (2025), Art of Grimoire (2023) and Troubled by Faith: Insanity and the Supernatural in the Age of the Asylum (2023). He has been described as Britain’s foremost academic expert on the history of magic.
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