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The Routledge History of Medieval Magic
The Routledge History of Medieval Magic brings together the work of scholars from across Europe and North America to provide extensive insights into recent developments in the study of medieval magic between c.1100 and c.1500.
This book covers a wide range of topics, including the magical texts which circulated in medieval Europe, the attitudes of intellectuals and churchmen to magic, the ways in which magic intersected with other aspects of medieval culture, and the early witch trials of the fifteenth century. In doing so, it offers the reader a detailed look at the impact that magic had within medieval society, such as its relationship to gender roles, natural philosophy, and courtly culture. This is furthered by the book's interdisciplinary approach, containing chapters dedicated to archaeology, literature, music, and visual culture, as well as texts and manuscripts.
The Routledge History of Medieval Magic also outlines how research on this subject could develop in the future, highlighting under-explored subjects, unpublished sources, and new approaches to the topic. It is the ideal book for both established scholars and students of medieval magic.
This book covers a wide range of topics, including the magical texts which circulated in medieval Europe, the attitudes of intellectuals and churchmen to magic, the ways in which magic intersected with other aspects of medieval culture, and the early witch trials of the fifteenth century. In doing so, it offers the reader a detailed look at the impact that magic had within medieval society, such as its relationship to gender roles, natural philosophy, and courtly culture. This is furthered by the book's interdisciplinary approach, containing chapters dedicated to archaeology, literature, music, and visual culture, as well as texts and manuscripts.
The Routledge History of Medieval Magic also outlines how research on this subject could develop in the future, highlighting under-explored subjects, unpublished sources, and new approaches to the topic. It is the ideal book for both established scholars and students of medieval magic.
568 pages, Paperback
First published December 26, 2018
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About the author
Sophie Page
10 books12 followersDr Sophie Page joined UCL History as a permanent lecturer in 2002 after studying at the Warburg Institute, UCL and Cambridge.
Sophie works in the area of European medieval magic and astrology, especially in relation to orthodox religion, natural philosophy, medicine, and cosmology. She is also interested in the imagery of medieval magic, especially diagrams, and in the history of animals in the Middle Ages.
Sophie's most recent book, Magic in the Cloister: Pious Motives, Illicit Interests, and Occult Approaches to the Medieval Universe, was published in October 2013. In addition, she has published an edited collection, The Unorthodox Imagination in Late Medieval Britain, articles on learned magic, astrology, and the cultural history of animals, and two books with the British Library: Astrology in Medieval Manuscripts and Magic in Medieval Manuscripts. Sophie is currently working on a book on animals and demons in the Middle Ages and an article on diagrams in medieval magic texts.
Sophie works in the area of European medieval magic and astrology, especially in relation to orthodox religion, natural philosophy, medicine, and cosmology. She is also interested in the imagery of medieval magic, especially diagrams, and in the history of animals in the Middle Ages.
Sophie's most recent book, Magic in the Cloister: Pious Motives, Illicit Interests, and Occult Approaches to the Medieval Universe, was published in October 2013. In addition, she has published an edited collection, The Unorthodox Imagination in Late Medieval Britain, articles on learned magic, astrology, and the cultural history of animals, and two books with the British Library: Astrology in Medieval Manuscripts and Magic in Medieval Manuscripts. Sophie is currently working on a book on animals and demons in the Middle Ages and an article on diagrams in medieval magic texts.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 17, 2022
No doubt a good introductory text for those studying magic in the Middle Ages. The first section is dedicated to how "magic" is defined and, while an important question to answer, bordered on the overly theoretical and esoteric for me. The remaining sections are focused on the languages and dissemination of magical texts, the types ("genres") of magic and key figures, themes around magic (i.e. gender, court) and the anti-magic discourse (leading of course to the witchcraft trials). These essays serve to introduce the reader to their subject and the work already done on it as well as making suggestions for future study.
Personally, I skimmed or skipped over the essays that didn't interest me or weren't relevant to my own research, and found most of the essays interesting of themselves but, having already researched my little heart out on related topics, found them less interesting and more simplistic to other work on the same subjects by the same author. This impacted my enjoyment and use of the book but I can't fault an introductory guide to medieval magic for being too much of an introductory text.
Personally, I skimmed or skipped over the essays that didn't interest me or weren't relevant to my own research, and found most of the essays interesting of themselves but, having already researched my little heart out on related topics, found them less interesting and more simplistic to other work on the same subjects by the same author. This impacted my enjoyment and use of the book but I can't fault an introductory guide to medieval magic for being too much of an introductory text.
August 10, 2021
Excelente reunión de expertos en torno a un tema que crece en relevancia, fuentes y aproximaciones. Es un libro que entrega al experto como al curioso lector las principales corrientes metodológicas, los principales temas y, especialmente, las posibilidades de investigación futuras en torno a la historia de la magia medieval. Recomendadísimo.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews