Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: witchcraft

  • Harry Potter – A History of Magic The Book of the Exhibition

    Harry Potter – A History of Magic The Book of the Exhibition

    In October 2017 The British Library opened the exhibition Harry Potter: A History Of Magic, making this the first major exhibition to explore the many aspects of JK Rowling’s beloved stories, showcasing the many historical and mythical aspects that have been used through the creation of Harry Potter stories.

    The book by the same title is one that accompanied the exhibition and is now available to the general public, which is marvellous as those who were unable to visit the exhibition personally, can now do so thought pages of this beautifully presented, page by page tour.

    Amongst the many items that made up the exhibition were original artworks from Jim Kay, which have been reproduced for this book, and are wonderful to be able to view. The pencil sketch of a young Harry Potter portrays innocence, intelligence and a little bit of something different.

    Each of the chapters deals with a different aspect of the magic that is Harry Potter, laced with full colour pictures, original documentation which ties back to recorded history and mythology, as well as introduction of the various sections from people such as Julia Eccleshare, who introduces The Journey. She has written a number of books in regard to children’s literature, in particular A Guide To The Harry Potter Novels.

    Anna Pavord discusses the many herbs and plants use in the study of Herbology undertaken at Hogwarts as one of the seven core subjects studied there in Herbology. Tim Peake, Astronaut and test pilot discusses Astronomy and the possibility of wizardry, while simply viewing the night skies in all their magic, while Owen Davies talks about the many aspects of magic, folklore and mystery that go into the creation of each of the stories in Divination.

    As each section in introduced by specialist in their fields, reading them is like being present at your own ‘talk’ about the specialist areas researched by JK Rowling’s of which form the basis for stories beloved by all.

    Twenty years on, Harry Potter shows no signs of slowing down, and one who will remain a boy who is special, has magical powers. Along with his wonderful word of magic Harry Potter has also encouraged so many children to read books and discover the very real magic to be found in amongst pages.

    Harry Potter: A History of Magic, the book, is the prefect keepsake for Harry Potter fans and a wonderful celebration of twenty years of the phenomenon that is Harry Potter.

     

     

  • A Deed Without a Name, Unearthing the Legacy of Traditional Witchcraft

    A Deed Without a Name, Unearthing the Legacy of Traditional Witchcraft

     A Deed Without A Name: Unearthing the Legacy of Traditional Witchcraft is a fascinating work that seeks to combine academic research on traditional witchcraft with practical knowledge and insider information which will close the gap between scholarly knowledge and the practical applications of Traditional Witchcraft. Drawing from decades of their own experiences in core-shamanism and witchcraft and combining with information from modern testimonials, folklore and trial records, the author desires to deepen the audiences understanding of the ‘ecstatic and visionary substrata of Traditional Witchcraft’ (Morgan 2013).

    The book is filled with fascinating content throughout all twenty-three chapters, ranging in subject from mythical creatures to exorcisms, which makes for interesting reading, particularly to those of us not as attune with the other realm. Each chapter clearly and concisely defines the subjects they discuss. Academic sources, poetry as well as other practitioners of magic are regularly referenced or directly quoted throughout the chapters, making for an informative and educating read. This is one of the few works of non-fiction that is either tedious or dull, rather the style of writing, while academic, flows and feels casual with the tone of language and not weighed down with jargon.

    Though this book intends to shed light on the often dark and murky subject of Traditional Witchcraft and enlighten its audience, but by no means does it dull or take away the wonder or intrigue of its subject nature.

    For those of us who are not in touch with the other-world, this book may seem like it is purely for those who practice or take an interest in witchcraft. However, this book is a fascinating read for anyone.

    Overall, A Deed Without A Name: Unearthing the Legacy of Traditional Witchcraft is an interesting read that successfully combines academia and witchcraft.