The literature of witchcraft

Delving into the tangled roots of humanity’s fascination with the supernatural, this scholarly work distinguishes the broad, worldwide practice of magic from the narrower, historically fleeting phenomenon of witchcraft. Drawing on sources from Akkadian tablets to Victorian séances, the author maps a literary tradition that, while never abundant, has left a surprisingly dense breadcrumb trail across theology, law, medicine and popular folklore. The opening chapters trace how medieval inquisitors repurposed ancient authorities—biblical, classical and patristic—to argue that witchcraft was as old as mankind, setting the stage for centuries of polemic and curiosity.

Beyond the doctrinal battles, the book offers a meticulously compiled bibliography, revealing the sheer breadth of titles that have touched the subject, from early Dominican treatises to nineteenth‑century occult manuals. As a librarian‑turned‑historian, the author invites listeners to explore how these texts shaped—and were shaped by—the cultural anxieties of their age, providing a fresh perspective on a shadowy corner of literary history.