WITCHCRAFT IN ENGLAND - illus by Mervyn Peake. **

UK,slim 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn thus.[First published by (UK) BATSFORD,1977,this re- issue 1990.] VG++/NFINE.No owner inscrptn - but front free endpaper removed and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,glossy laminated,black background with Mervyn Peake yellow line illustration (witch with her cat in her arms) to front panel of dw/dj,with red+white lettering, similar lettering to spine; with negligible shelf-wear or creasing to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present.Top+fore-edges toned; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound, page-edges toned but no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners,appears unread - apart from my own collation.Publisher's bright,crisp, clean,sharp-cornered,original plain black cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt letters to spine/backstrip,a b/w striped headband and clean plain white endpapers - missing ffe excepted.UK, slim 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn thus,7-182pp [paginated] includes 12 chapters each with a Mervyn Peake line illustration headpiece, part+ full page b/w illustrations by Peake interspersed throughout the text and the book,a select bibliography,notes and an index (these latter unpaginated); plus [unpaginated] half-title with b/w Peake illustration to reverse,a title page,a contents list/table and the aforementioned notes+index.
Witchcraft was practised in England from time immemorial. Pagan magic was denounced by the medieval church,but England escaped the continental Inquisition.It was not until the reign of Elizabeth I that serious 'witch-hunting' began.It was to last - with all the ruthless trappings of informing,searching, 'swimmimg',prosecutions and hanging - for over 150 years.
Few people know more about English witchcraft than Christina Hole, who sets the more sensational stories in a balanced context. Besides highlighting the famous individual such as Elisabeth Francis with her spotted cat, 'Old Chattox' and Dr Dee,she examines the sort of people who became involved in witchcraft (including white witches,prophets and astrologers),the arts they practised, the 'familiars' they used,the everyday needs they satisfied - and the fear and hatred they aroused. She describes too, the violent persecution of the 17thC and the subsequent gradual decline of the belief in witchcraft.
But the Act of 1736,which swept away the penal laws against 'Witchcraft,Sorcery,Inchantment or Conjuration', could not eradicate popular belefs and practises.Even now traces of the old faith flourish in our everyday superstitions and in the revived rituals and covens,but the fear and hatred surrounding witchcraft have vanished.
The 27 b/w illustrations were specially drawn by Mervyn Peake for the book's first edition (1977).
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