The Magician, the Witch, and the Law by Edward Peters

The Magician, the Witch, and the Law by Edward Peters

In the early Middle Ages, magic was considered a practical science, requiring study and skill. But as European society became more articulate and self-conscious, the old tradition of magic as a science became associated with heresy and sorcery. Thereafter the Middle Ages knew no safe, learned magic that was not subject to accusation of diabolism in one form or another, and the magician, like the later witch, could be punished for both spiritual and temporal offenses. Through Peters's analysis of the legal, ecclesiastical, and literary responses to this problem, magic and witchcraft are located more accurately in the cultural context of the time, providing important insight into medieval history.

"Peters teases out of familiar tales of fear and fantasy a real picture of those who, in cell, court, and countryside, offered their sinister services to an increasingly credulous world"—History

"Helps to place our understanding of medieval witchcraft into a broader context. . . . Sheds light on the various genres of literature in which magic was discussed."—Speculum

Edward Peters is Henry Charles Lea Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania. His publications include Heresy and Authority in Medieval Europe; The First Crusade; and, with Alan C. Kors, Witchcraft in Europe, 400-1700: A Documentary History, all available from the University of Pennsylvania Press.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780812211016
ISBN 10	0812211014
Title	The Magician, the Witch, and the Law
Author	Edward Peters
Series	The Middle Ages Series
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	University of Pennsylvania Press
Year published	1982-03-01
Number of pages	234
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.