Aren't you just fed up with all those 'new' books on witchcraft? So was I until I found Witchcraft Out of the Shadows. I was looking for a reliable new history of witchcraft that actually had something original to say and I found it.

Witchcraft Out of the Shadows is an incredible book: once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. The author, Leo Ruickbie, has a great, highly readable style with which he manages to convey a lot of information. The book is divided into three sections. The first deals with the beginnings of witchcraft in the ancient world and how it developed through the Dark and Middle Ages up to the Early Modern period. There's masses of information on Hecate, for example, that I just haven't found anywhere else. The second part deals with the origins of modern witchcraft, the influence of the Golden Dawn, the role of Aleister Crowley and the part played by Gerald Gardner. The chapter on Gardner is pure genius. There's a complete break down and analysis of the Book of Shadows. Gardner is totally dissected! The third part is all about witches today: who they are, what they do and why they do it. Most of this stuff is from Leo's unpublished PhD research. He ends with an analysis of the crisis facing Christianity in the West and discusses an exciting new development that he calls re-enchantment.

My favourite chapter was the one on magic. It gives you such an amazing insight into how witches define and use magic, and the effect it has on them. Even having practised magic myself, this was quite an eye-opener.

There are also some superb photographs to illustrate the book and, as I understand, the author has taken many of them himself. There are eighteen in total to illustrate the various sections of the book.

Finally, the book lives up to its title. This book really does bring witchcraft out of the shadows. And did I mention that there is also a website at http://www.witchcraftoutoftheshadows.com to go with it? The website has interviews, more reviews, a writing of, as well as competitions and free downloads. (I've got the Witches' Altar screensaver on my PC as I write). It all adds up to quite a package. I'm impressed.

Overall, the book is written in a serious and scholarly fashion. It's thoroughly referenced with a useful bibliography and a detailed index. Leo Ruickbie is an academic, but one who can talk to his readers whether they have an academic background or not. He's definitely a writer to watch.

Recommended:
Yes