Illustrated Anthology of Sorcery, Magic and Alchemy is a very interesting delve into the history of, and attitudes towards, the occult. The chapters dealing with magic and alchemy were interesting, but some parts were a little on the technical side, making them difficult to understand. The chapters dealing with sorcery were my favourites. They were intensely readable, written in simple layman's terms, without being dumbed down, and the content made fascinating reading. While much of this book is written from a Christian perspective, it is not so heavy-handed as to make it hard to ignore. I found this book extremely informative and insightful.

However, even if you have no interest in the subject matter, Illustrated Anthology of Sorcery, Magic and Alchemy is worth perusing just for the wonderful selection of illustrations included. There are over 300, many of the gorgeously intricate plates and artwork, most of them difficult, if not impossible for the average person to access. My only lament is that they are reproduced in black and white - I would have loved to view these beautiful pieces in colour!

This book is a must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in the occult, alchemy, history or art. ( )

fire damaged

Wonderful ( )