The Tarot

by Richard Cavendish

A compendium of information on the Tarot including its origin, myths and facts about the Tarot. There are clear instructions on how to lay out and read the cards and their significance in magic, meditation and divination.

Genres: Tarot, Occult, Nonfiction, Divination, History

191 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Richard Cavendish (1930 - 2016) was a writer, lecturer, broadcaster, historian & leading authority on Magic and Witchcraft. He is the author of 'The Black Arts', a study of the European tradition of magic.

Reviews

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Cavendish is a medievalist who writes on occult subjects with scholarly authority and an enviable objectivity. I've been reading up on the subject because of a fiction project, and I have found this book to be a very complete discussion of the history of playing cards, the Kabbalah and its relation to the tarot. If you are interested in the tarot but don't want to subject yourself to a lot of magic-purple-dolphin-fairy prose, this book will suit you well.

[Matthew Boylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrations were nice, some of the interpretations were helpful, but wasn't too comprehensive.
Not the best source, but it was serviceable.

[Michael Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides a sensible introduction to Tarot. His material on the major arcana gives an insight into tarot interpretation (nearly) 40 years ago. In my view - material of this kind - is far superior to many current books on Tarot. Recommended.

[Dustincecil · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lot of really great research collected and presented in one place here--without getting too preachy.