Cursed Britain: A History of Witchcraft and Black Magic in Modern Times

The definitive history of how witchcraft and black magic have survived, through the modern era and into the present day. Cursed Britain unveils the enduring power of witchcraft, curses and black magic in modern times. Few topics are so secretive or controversial. Yet, whether in the 19th century or the early 21st, when disasters struck or personal misfortunes mounted, many Britons found themselves believing in things they had previously dismissed - dark supernatural forces.

Historian Thomas Waters here explores the lives of cursed or bewitched people, along with the witches and witch-busters who helped and harmed them. Waters takes us on a fascinating journey from Scottish islands to the folklore-rich West Country, from the immense territories of the British Empire to metropolitan London. We learn why magic caters to deep-seated human needs but see how it can also be abused, and discover how witchcraft survives by evolving and changing.

Along the way, we examine an array of remarkable beliefs and rituals, from traditional folk magic to diverse spiritualities originating in Africa and Asia. This is a tale of cynical quacks and sincere magical healers, depressed people and furious vigilantes, innocent victims and rogues who claimed to possess evil abilities. Their spellbinding stories raise important questions about the state's role in regulating radical spiritualities, the fragility of secularism and the true nature of magic.

"Broad, adventurous, subtle, painstaking and in place perhaps controversial: at once a glittering debut and a monument of scholarship" - Ronald Hutton, author of The Witch

"Impressive... A salutory reminder that the modern world is not immune to superstition" - Robert Leigh-Pemberton, Daily Telegraph

"Admirably wide-ranging ... Offer a survey of magic from the beginning of the 19th century until the present day, clearly demonstraing its ubiquity, its importance, and its persistence." - William Whyte, Church Times

Format: Paperback, 360 pages
ISBN: 9780300254778
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 4 August, 2020
Weight: 344 g
Dimensions: 196x130x32 mm

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