Release date is 2022-06-18

On a possible revival of witchcraft -- A Sabbath-General -- The origins of the witch -- The half-way worlds -- The witch's attributes -- Some representative English witches -- The witch of antiquity -- The witch in Greece and Rome -- From paganism to Christianity -- The Witch-Bull and its effects -- The later persecutions in England -- Persecutions in Scotland -- Other persecutions -- Philtres, charms and potions -- The witch in fiction -- Some witches of today.

Brian Coe, Graeme Mackreth and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)

"The Book of Witches" by Oliver Madox Hueffer is a treatise on the history and cultural significance of witchcraft written in the early 20th century. The text explores the longstanding human fascination with witches, their roles in folklore, and society’s evolving perceptions of them. Through a blend of historical account and philosophical inquiry, the book endeavors to illustrate the importance of witches in the human narrative, suggesting that even in modernity, their relevance persists. At the start of the work, the author sets the stage by reflecting on the possible revival of witchcraft in contemporary society. He argues that despite widespread skepticism regarding witches, superstitions and beliefs in their powers continue to exist, particularly in rural areas. Hueffer recounts anecdotes of modern practitioners and the fascination they hold for some communities, thus presenting witchcraft as both an archaic relic and a living tradition. The opening chapters also explore the symbolic role of the witch in human history, suggesting that the witch serves as a critical lens through which we can understand societal fears, women's roles, and the human need for mysticism amidst enlightenment. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: United States: The John McBride Co, 1909