Popular Magic: Cunning-Folk in English History

By Owen Davies

Book Overview

Cunning-folk were local practitioners of magic, providing small-scale but valued service to the community. They were far more representative of magical practice than the arcane delvings of astrologers and necromancers. Mostly unsensational in their approach, cunning-folk helped people with everyday problems: how to find lost objects; how to escape from bad luck or a suspected spell; and how to attract a lover or keep the love of a husband or wife. While cunning-folk sometimes fell foul of the authorities, both church and state often turned a blind eye to their existence and practices, distinguishing what they did from the rare and sensational cases of malvolent witchcraft. In a world of uncertainty, before insurance and modern science, cunning-folk played an important role that has previously been ignored.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 184725036X
• ISBN13: 9781847250360
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Continnuum-3PL
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.2"