Thursday 23 July 2009

The Book of English Magic

I've just got a copy of The Book of English Magic, a new book by Philip Carr-Gomm and Richard Heygate and it looks fascinating.

The blurb tells me The Book of English Magic explores the curious and little-known fact that of all the countries in the world, England has the richest history of magical lore and practice.

"English authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Terry Pratchett, and J. K. Rowling, dominate the world of magic in fiction, but from the earliest times, England has also acted as home to generations of eccentrics and scholars who have researched and explored every conceivable kind of occult art. Most people are torn between a fascination with magic and an almost instinctive fear of the occult, of a world redolent with superstition and illusion. And yet more people now practice magic in England than at any time in her history. The Book of English Magic explores this hidden story, from its first stirrings to our present-day fascination with all things magical. Along the way readers are offered a rich menu of magical things to do and places to visit."

I am very much looking forward to reading it and when I've done so I will review it on A Bad Witch's Blog.

The Book of English Magic by Philip Carr-Gomm and Richard Heygate is published by John Murray Publishers and is available through Amazon.


4 comments:

Thorn said...

C.S. Lewis was born in Ireland of an Irish/Welsh family, I have to wonder at the accuracy of the research when they identify him as English, he considered himself an Irishman living in England.

Antony said...

Can't wait to read the review.

Hugs,

A x

Philip Carr-Gomm said...

Hi!

We don't identify him as English!
Hope you enjoy the book!

Philip Carr-Gomm

Philip Carr-Gomm said...

OMG I've just realised that a piece of text that reads 'Magic runs through the veins of English history and culture; it has been part of our daily lives from the earliest Arthurian legends to the novels of Tolkien and C.S.Lewis etc..'was reworked by the publisher for a one page preface they thought the book needed to 'English authors such as Tolkien, Lewis etc'..We missed this change of meaning. He was, as 'Thorn, says born in Northern Ireland and moved to England when he was thirteen. I'll see if we can get it corrected for 2nd edition.