Customer Reviews
dont bother - By: Mr. Darren Jones, 14 Oct 2008 
if your looking for a wayin to black magic this IS NOT the book for you its basicly a history of it. they say dont judge a book by its cover, now i see why !!!
Do you expect me to talk? No Mr Bond, I expect you to die. - By: Horatio Tunguska, 29 Apr 2003 
I think alot of people get this wrong. This isn't a recipe book to summon demons, or your typically pro-occult book. It tells the story more of the fusing together of various belief systems, to create the occult beliefs of the middle ages. I for one am pleased that there is a book that neither denounces nor condones these belief or practices but lets you decide for yourself. Cavendish style is easy to read, & his explainations are clear. A must for those wishing to explore to history of all things occult, without any annoying bias.
Interesting....but beware all you witches! - By: Hope (hope_angelus@hotmail.com), 20 Jul 2001 
This book covers a wide range of subjects within the area of the occult, from Astrology & Numerology right through to the Black Mass! However, if you are a witch - then I advise to avoid this book as you WILL be offended - Cavendish refers to all witches as evil, states that they worship the devil & that they say the Lord's Prayer backwards at their Sabbats & have to have sex with a devil (or a goat!) at their initiation! I am not sure why he thinks that witches worship the devil as the devil is a Christian concept....but there you are! A good base for future study - but take with a pinch of salt.
Good for background, but still not to practical - By: , 25 May 2000 
Although this book does contain a lot of interesting background notes & the author does seem well informedin the theory of magick, it still lacks practical advise & spell instructions.
More fun than you should be allowed to have - By: , 12 Aug 1999 This is one of the best-written, most lucid accounts of black magic that I've read, & believe me, I've read a lot of them. I don't care if Cavendish believes a word of it, his review of what's what is fun.
Usually, the sceptics are too busy de-bunking, & the believers too busy being credulous, so the whole subject ends up being tedious. Unless, of course, you are determined to try some magic yourself,in which case, you will need all the credulity you can muster. Cavendish treats it all with a light hand, & gives a nice overview of the subject.
Have fun. Read this before you plunge into the study of the occult - it'll save you a lot of floundering around.
