WITCHCRAFT & MAGIC - Ultimate Collection: 27 book Collection: Salem Trials, Lives of the Necromancers, Modern Magic, Witch Stories, Mary Schweidler, Sidonia, La Sorcière…

by Bram Stoker, Charles Mackay, William Godwin

WITCHCRAFT & MAGIC - Ultimate Collection stands as a monumental anthology that traverses the elusive and captivating world of witchcraft and magic through an array of literary styles and perspectives. The collection brings together an unprecedented array of essays, historical analyses, folk tales, and narratives, emboldened by the diversity of its contributors. From the grim historical accounts of witch trials to the mystical tales of magic that have coursed through cultures worldwide, the anthology reveals the multifaceted representations of witchcraft, magic, and their profound impact on societies and imaginations over centuries. The significance of the works included in this compilation lies not only in their thematic variances but also in their collective capacity to weave a comprehensive tapestry of the human fascination with the supernatural, including standout pieces that examine the socio-political ramifications of witch fantasies and realities alike. The contributing authors and editors, including luminaries such as Bram Stoker and Margaret Murray, hail from varied historical and cultural backgrounds, offering a rich mosaic of insights into the deeply entrenched beliefs and fears that have shaped human interactions with witchcraft and magic. This compilation aligns itself with key historical, cultural, and literary movementsranging from the Enlightenment's scientific scrutiny of magical beliefs to the Romantic fascination with the gothic and supernatural. The anthology benefits immeasurably from the contributors' diverse disciplinary backgrounds, their collective work fostering a deeper understanding of the historical roots and cultural narratives that have perpetuated the allure of the magical and the occult. WITCHCRAFT & MAGIC - Ultimate Collection invites readers into a realm of intrigue, history, and profound insight, offering a unique opportunity to explore a variety of perspectives, styles, and themes within a single volume. This anthology is not just a scholarly work; it's an educational journey that bridges the gap between the mystical past and the rational present, encouraging readers to delve into the shadows of history and emerge with a broader understanding of human nature and our perennial flirtation with the world beyond the empirical. It is an essential read for anyone interested in the dialogues that these varied authors' works foster, illuminating the complexities of witchcraft and magic as cultural phenomena that continue to fascinate and perplex humanity.

8036 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 9, 2023

About the author

Irish-born Abraham Stoker, known as Bram, of Britain wrote the gothic horror novel Dracula (1897).

The feminist Charlotte Mathilda Blake Thornely Stoker at 15 Marino crescent, then as now called "the crescent," in Fairview, a coastal suburb of Dublin, Ireland, bore this third of seven children. The parents, members of church of Ireland, attended the parish church of Saint John the Baptist, located on Seafield road west in Clontarf with their baptized children.

Stoker, an invalid, started school at the age of seven years in 1854, when he made a complete and astounding recovery. Of this time, Stoker wrote, "I was naturally thoughtful, and the leisure of long illness gave opportunity for many thoughts which were fruitful according to their kind in later years."

After his recovery, he, a normal young man, even excelled as a university athlete at Trinity college, Dublin form 1864 to 1870 and graduated with honors in mathematics. He served as auditor of the college historical society and as president of the university philosophical society with his first paper on "Sensationalism in Fiction and Society."

In 1876, while employed as a civil servant in Dublin, Stoker wrote a non-fiction book (The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland, published 1879) and theatre reviews for The Dublin Mail, a newspaper partly owned by fellow horror writer J. Sheridan Le Fanu. His interest in theatre led to a lifelong friendship with the English actor Henry Irving. He also wrote stories, and in 1872 "The Crystal Cup" was published by the London Society, followed by "The Chain of Destiny" in four parts in The Shamrock.

In 1878 Stoker married Florence Balcombe, a celebrated beauty whose former suitor was Oscar Wilde. The couple moved to London, where Stoker became business manager (at first as acting-manager) of Irving's Lyceum Theatre, a post he held for 27 years. The collaboration with Irving was very important for Stoker and through him he became involved in London's high society, where he met, among other notables, James McNeil Whistler, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In the course of Irving's tours, Stoker got the chance to travel around the world.

The Stokers had one son, Irving Noel, who was born on December 31, 1879.

People cremated the body of Bram Stoker and placed his ashes placed in a display urn at Golders green crematorium. After death of Irving Noel Stoker in 1961, people added his ashes to that urn. Despite the original plan to keep ashes of his parents together, after death, people scattered ashes of Florence Stoker at the gardens of rest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bram_Stoker