At a Glance
- Published by DK, with a foreword by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb
- A complete global history — necromancy in the ancient world to folk magic in the internet age
- More than 350 full-color images with biographies of key figures
- Special features on Chinese oracle bones, the Knights Templar, mandrake and belladonna
- Galleries of talismans, poppets, crystals and Wiccan tools
- Part of DK's Esoteric Histories series — 320 pages, hardcover
How to Use It
A reference book earns its place by being opened, not by being finished.
- Start with the chapter that answers the question you already have. Reference works reward curiosity over order.
- Keep it near your altar, desk or reading chair — somewhere you will actually reach for it.
- Mark the pages you return to. The passages you revisit are the ones your practice is built on.
- Read one entry before a ritual or a study session to set the frame for what follows.
Book Details
| Detail |
Specification |
| Format |
Hardcover |
| Pages |
320 |
| Dimensions |
1 x 10.1 x 8.4 in |
| Illustrated |
Yes, 350+ color images |
| Published |
August 18, 2020 |
| Series |
DK Esoteric Histories |
✨ Temple Tip
Use the galleries as a working reference. When you acquire a new tool or talisman, look it up here first — knowing an object's history changes how you handle it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this suitable for sceptics as well as believers?
The publisher states the book will enthral and fascinate in equal measure, whether you are a believer or a sceptic, and it actively dispels myths such as those around the voodoo doll and Ouija.
What is the Esoteric Histories series?
DK's series exploring mystical and mysterious subjects, with global sales of more than 300,000 copies. Other titles include A History of Ghosts, Spirits and the Supernatural and A History of Astrology, Divination and Prophecy.
How global is the coverage?
It spans necromancy in the ancient world, European folk magic, Japanese folklore, Indian witchcraft and the differences between black and white magic.
Who wrote it?
Published by DK, with a foreword by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, historian, broadcaster and award-winning professor of history at the University of Roehampton.
How quickly does it ship?
Ships within 3 business days, packed to protect the corners and the spine.
Three hundred and twenty pages of what people actually believed — and still do. #TempleOfDesire
