Owen Davies

Art of the Grimoire is a copiously illustrated global history of magic books, spanning from ancient papyri to pulp paperbacks. Grimoires, as textbooks of magic and occult knowledge, have existed through the ages alongside other magic and religious texts. They were created not only to record magical phenomena but also to enact magic through spells and rituals. Understanding the history...

A gripping guide to the weird yet everyday world of British folklore. In this unique, deeply researched book, two leading experts provide the definitive guide to British folklore past and present. Owen Davies and Ceri Houlbrook explore folklore in all its remarkable variations, from village rituals and fairy tales to UFO legends and internet fanfiction. Travelling through a landscape of...

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...

A global history of divination practices and tools, from tea leaves and tarot cards to pyromancy and palmistry Throughout history, humans have aspired to explain the unexplainable, to understand phenomena beyond our control, and to peer into the future. In this captivating book, Owen Davies explores the global history of divination practices that seek to answer questions that range from...