Grimoires: A History of Magic Books

dachda · Post by **dachda** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 3:33 pm

Saw this looked like an interesting book:

"Owen Davies, professor of social history at the University of Hertfordshire, has written extensively about the history of magic, witchcraft and ghosts. Last month Oxford University Press published his most recent work, Grimoires, the first ever history of the books of spells whose origins were first recorded in the ancient Middle East."

Grimoires: A History of Magic Books
http://www.amazon.com/Grimoires-History ... 381&sr=8-1
_________________
Sir Dachda McKinty,

Margrave and Knight of Portlandia
Castles & Crusades Society

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 3:43 pm

Should be interesting to see what is pure speculation. Fun topic, though.
_________________
If it matters, leave a message at the beep.
Serl's Corner

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:18 pm

That sounds like it may be a great resource.
_________________
The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 6:28 pm

I've already pre-ordered it when I first found about it. I think it should be shipping soon.

The first couple of chapters will no doubt examine 'classical' sources and I'd be very surprised if certain texts don't get a mention but, looking at the table of contents, this material is liable to be a bit more brief than I would like. This first part may end up being a good 'primer' on the subject.

I don't have enough of a notion of the exact subject matter covered in the rest of the book but plenty of speculations. I'm relatively certain that the Golden Dawn will be mentioned as well as the rest of the occult movement in England during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The work of these people helped popularize some of the older grimoires as some where being translated and edited to be published.

I'll be glad to give me thoughts on the book once I receive my copy and have a chance to go through the material.

M
_________________
"You face Death itself in the form of... 1d4 Tarrasques!"

Partner to Brave Halfling Publishing
http://www.arcanacreations.com

dachda · Post by **dachda** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:02 pm

moriarty777 wrote:
I've already pre-ordered it when I first found about it. I think it should be shipping soon.

The first couple of chapters will no doubt examine 'classical' sources and I'd be very surprised if certain texts don't get a mention but, looking at the table of contents, this material is liable to be a bit more brief than I would like. This first part may end up being a good 'primer' on the subject.

I don't have enough of a notion of the exact subject matter covered in the rest of the book but plenty of speculations. I'm relatively certain that the Golden Dawn will be mentioned as well as the rest of the occult movement in England during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The work of these people helped popularize some of the older grimoires as some where being translated and edited to be published.

I'll be glad to give me thoughts on the book once I receive my copy and have a chance to go through the material.

M

yes, please do give us a review. I'd like to know a bit more before I decide to get a copy. Thanks.
_________________
Sir Dachda McKinty,

Margrave and Knight of Portlandia
Castles & Crusades Society

grodog · Post by **grodog** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:34 am

Looks interesting, thanks for the pointer, dachda!

I wrote a paper on witchcraft during the early Renaissance (as it appeaed in the dramatic works of Shakespeare's contemporaries) while an undergrad at Penn State, and was able to peruse several old tomes in PSU's Rare Books Room, including original printings of Daemonologie by James VI, King of Scotland (aka James I of England), Malleus Maleficarum, and others I've since forgotten the titles of.

This new book looks like a good excuse to go dig the paper back up and see if I had anything worthwhile to say back then
_________________
grodog

----

Allan Grohe
grodog@gmail.com
http://www.greyhawkonline.com/grodog/
http://www.greyhawkonline.com/grodog/greyhawk.html for my Greyhawk site

moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:10 pm

grodog wrote:
Looks interesting, thanks for the pointer, dachda!

I wrote a paper on witchcraft during the early Renaissance (as it appeaed in the dramatic works of Shakespeare's contemporaries) while an undergrad at Penn State, and was able to peruse several old tomes in PSU's Rare Books Room, including original printings of Daemonologie by James VI, King of Scotland (aka James I of England), Malleus Maleficarum, and others I've since forgotten the titles of.

This new book looks like a good excuse to go dig the paper back up and see if I had anything worthwhile to say back then

There are a lot of fascinating, scholarly books on the subject of medieval magic and occultism, that come out of Penn State and I've heard of their library where they house the rare books. I believe the is also an online catalog of some of the stuff they've made accessible electronically. I'll have to see if I can find the link later tonight.

M
_________________
"You face Death itself in the form of... 1d4 Tarrasques!"

Partner to Brave Halfling Publishing
http://www.arcanacreations.com

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:48 pm

Think it'll mention the Black Libram?

moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:21 pm

DangerDwarf wrote:
Think it'll mention the Black Libram?

Unfortunately, the Black Libram is probably one of the most elusive grimoires in existence and study of this work deserves a book of it's own!

M
_________________
"You face Death itself in the form of... 1d4 Tarrasques!"

Partner to Brave Halfling Publishing
http://www.arcanacreations.com