Cursed Britain by Waters, Thomas -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Contents One Black magic in modern times Two Blood the witch, swim the wizard: 1800–30

1804: William Ettrick’s evil year Wizardry at Wickham Skeith Magic in Monmouthshire Brutal beliefs Milder means Evil traditions Indulgent magistrates Shy demonologists Critics muster

Three Tough superstitions: 1830–60

Outrage in Oxfordshire: the case of the ‘Little Tew ghost’ Cursing, Irish and otherwise The drive against ‘popular superstition’ A resilient creed Progress for the few, witchcraft for the many Conjurors and constables, magistrates and magic Spellbound or mesmerised?

Four Secret beliefs: 1860–1900

Investigating witchcraft with the folklorists Witch hares in the Western Isles Regional witchcraft Witch villages and cursing wells Who were the witches? Women and witchcraft

Five Healing black magic: the unwitchers of late Victorian Britain

An Aberdeenshire Warlock Cunning-folk From cards to curses: fortune-telling Roma go ‘dukkerin’ Unwitching as mental health care Why unwitching worked

Six Occultists study dark arts: 1850s–1900

From crisis of faith to occult revival Spiritualism and evil magnetism Theosophy and Indian witches Black magic and the Golden Dawn Christian Science: a new witchcraft Baphomet and paganism Strident Christians revive demonology

Seven Gone native: witchcraft in the British Empire and beyond

Baptist meets witch Superstition and imperialism The occult in the outback Māoris and makutu: witchcraft in New Zealand Slavery and sorcery: obeah in the Caribbean Beyond colonial power: witchcraft and witch-hunting in India The curse of a continent? Witchcraft in Africa Bringing magic back

Eight Witchcraft’s decline: 1900’60s

Under psychic attack: How Violet Firth became Dion Fortune Witchcraft’s decline: 1900–1930s A twentieth-century white witch: the late career of Mother Herne The war against quackery The last conjurors in Wales Witchcraft’s collapse: 1940s–1960s Why did witchcraft decline? Roma doing less dukkerin, but still cursing Pagan witch cults and a magic murder Wicca

Nine Multicultural magic: 1970–2015

The evolution of enchantment: John Lundy’s curse Old stories and alternative lifestyles: witchcraft in the countryside Voodoo London: magic in the urban environment Out of Africa? Witchcraft and child abuse The deliverance ministry: a new demonology The occult online

Ten Conclusion: witchcraft’s decline and return Endnotes Select Bibliography List of maps and illustrations Acknowledgements Index