Ronald Hutton is known for his colourful and provocative writings on original subjects. This work is no exception: for the first full-scale scholarly study of the only religion England has ever given the world; that of modern pagan witchcraft, which has now spread from English shores across four continents. Hutton examines the nature of that religion and its development, and offers a microhistory of attitudes to paganism, witchcraft, and magic in British society since 1800. Its pages reveal village cunning folk, Victorian ritual magicians, classicists and archaeologists, leaders of woodcraft and scouting movements, Freemasons, and members of rural secret societies. We also find some of the leading of figures of English literature, from the Romantic poets to W.B. Yeats, D.H. Lawrence, and Robert Graves, as well as the main personalities who have represented pagan witchcraft to the world since 1950. Densely researched, Triumph of the Moon presents an authoritative insight into a hitherto little-known aspect of modern social history.
The Triumph of the Moon:A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Amazon Review
Until recently Wiccans--the name that present day witches prefer--used to claim that their religion was a recreation, even a continuation of ancient beliefs widespread in Europe before Christianity drove them out. Most of today's Wiccans are more honest, more ready to accept that theirs is a new religion, self-consciously created to serve a need not met by existing mainstream religions.
Ronald Hutton's The Triumph of he Moon is a history of modern pagan witchcraft, examining not only its origins half a century ago but the many ideas and enthusiasms of the last few centuries that paved the way for it. He finds powerful influences in 18th and 19th-century Freemasonry, 19th-century Rosicrucian-type societies, including the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, as well as in the tradition of wise women, dispensers of herbal remedies and folk wisdom. Interestingly, these last, who many Wiccans would see as the main forerunners of themselves, Hutton finds to have little real significance. With the benefit of scholarly insight, he also points out the unreliability of the most influential literary and / or supposedly academic works supporting the idea of ancient European religion, such as Charles Leland's Aradia, Margaret Murray's The Witch-Cult in Western Europe and The God of the Witches, J.G. Frazer's The Golden Bough and Robert Graves' The White Goddess.
Hutton, a regular contributor to TV documentaries about Neo-Pagansism, is Professor of History at Bristol University. The Triumph of the Moon is that rarity, a very readable academic book, which will be fascinating to anyone with an interest in the history of witchcraft. --David V. Barrett --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"An excellent reference edition....I highly recommend it."--Weekly Alibi
"Hutton uses his historical skills to tease apart some of the themes in this popular rural romanticism, and to locate their purely modern origin."--Times Literary Supplement, UK
"Hutton's book is excellent..."--Times Literary Supplement
"Hutton has synthesized a huge body of sources, and woven together a fascinating narrative with supreme skill. The reader is sure to be gripped by the wonderful cast of characters that he assembles...Hutton shows us that paganism is a matter of interest not only for the classicist and archeologist, but for the modern historian as well. In doing so his Triumph of the Moon proves to be a triumph of cultural history."--Owen Davies, History Today (UK, Vol. 50 No. 3
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
THIS book is to be largely concerned with religion, a phenomenon which itself has never been defined in a manner wholly and universally acceptable to scholars concerned with it; indeed, the many practitioners and commentators who will feature in this present work themselves display a range of approaches to the problem. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
THIS book is to be largely concerned with religion, a phenomenon which itself has never been defined in a manner wholly and universally acceptable to scholars concerned with it; indeed, the many practitioners and commentators who will feature in this present work themselves display a range of approaches to the problem. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
59 of 62 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. M. P. Duffy
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton to my mind is an essential read for any practicing wiccan or witch. It's a historical book of two halves. The first half is an exploration & history of the facets that make up modern pagan witchcraft, such as the Goddess, the God, cunning folk, high ritual magic, secret societies, paganism etc, then the second half is an account of how the different strands came together. It's the first proper scholarly investigation by a respected historian, and helps avoid the pitfalls of false histories etc.
It can also be used as a springboard by reading the works cited in each part so as to further an understanding of modern Craft.
Triumph of the Moon, although historical in tone, is still sympathetic to modern Witchcraft & its practitioners, pointing out that it is a valid independent religion (and discussing why), not a cult, sect etc, that its modern origin makes it no less valid, & doesn't attempt to discuss whether spells, healing etc really work, only that people use it & there are cases in which the intended result seems to have occured.
After reading it, although the romantic notion of wicca being an age old religion will be shown to be a fantasy (which deep down most people already suspected), and that it is a modern synthesis of older & new ideas, I for one found myself feeling better than ever about being a witch.
It can also be used as a springboard by reading the works cited in each part so as to further an understanding of modern Craft.
Triumph of the Moon, although historical in tone, is still sympathetic to modern Witchcraft & its practitioners, pointing out that it is a valid independent religion (and discussing why), not a cult, sect etc, that its modern origin makes it no less valid, & doesn't attempt to discuss whether spells, healing etc really work, only that people use it & there are cases in which the intended result seems to have occured.
After reading it, although the romantic notion of wicca being an age old religion will be shown to be a fantasy (which deep down most people already suspected), and that it is a modern synthesis of older & new ideas, I for one found myself feeling better than ever about being a witch.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The other reviews on this item are very thorough but I felt it was important to point out that this is a very academic view of Wicca and, as such, is quite a 'hefty' read. There is a lot of (excellent) information to absorb. It would make a lot more sense if you've read work by the main Wiccan writers and could therefore appreciate Hutton's review of their traditions.
I really enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it but it's not a 'read-in-one-afternoon' type book.
I really enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it but it's not a 'read-in-one-afternoon' type book.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By pointone
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Profound and sympathetic knowledge permeates the whole of this superb history tracing the origins of modern pagan beliefs back to the eighteenth century.
The first part entitled "Macrocosm" examines each component part of the new religion and how it evolved into its final form. The second part entitled "Microcosm" is about the personalities, their rivalries, and the divergent nature of the outcomes.
Hutton is undoubtedly correct that neo paganism as known today is a modern construct, but although he is even handed in his treatment of the subject, one has to remind oneself when reading the book that there is undoubtedly an ancient precedent.
In addition Hutton closely observed and researched 21 covens comprising 213 practitioners and the results form a fascinating conclusion to a remarkable achievement.
The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft
The first part entitled "Macrocosm" examines each component part of the new religion and how it evolved into its final form. The second part entitled "Microcosm" is about the personalities, their rivalries, and the divergent nature of the outcomes.
Hutton is undoubtedly correct that neo paganism as known today is a modern construct, but although he is even handed in his treatment of the subject, one has to remind oneself when reading the book that there is undoubtedly an ancient precedent.
In addition Hutton closely observed and researched 21 covens comprising 213 practitioners and the results form a fascinating conclusion to a remarkable achievement.
The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 83 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Hutton's book goes far in addressing the paucity of serious academic study on the topic. It's refreshing to see a historical take on a modern religion.
Published 25 days ago by Mr. L. Jackson-Ross
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book (shame about the print)
Hutton's excellent book manages to be both scholarly and highly readable. Instructive, too, and thought-provoking. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Heathcliff
5.0 out of 5 stars
Uncovering what is true and what is not
Prof. Hutton systematically and comprehensively dismantles witchcraft. The inventors of witchcraft are revealed and their invention is pretty-much de-bunked. Nicely done.
Published 10 months ago by Simi Bignall
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Triumph of Uncertainty...
Intrigued by Mr Hutton's assertion that "Wicca" (meaning the wise-ones) is the first all British religion given to the world, I approached his book The Triumph of the Moon as my... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Celestial Elf
5.0 out of 5 stars
Modern Pagan Witchcraft - and about time too!
This is a superb tome, very readable, perhaps more so for those with a working knowledge of the history and origins of ritual magic, and expertly presented by someone at the height... Read more
Published 13 months ago by B. Scott
3.0 out of 5 stars
Triumph of the Moon - Tedious
TEDIOUS, is the first word that comes to mind regarding this book, that and heavy going. It was extrememly difficult not to just put this book aside and ignore it. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Willow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Should Be Compulsory Reading For All Wiccans
This is the book that I recommend when anyone who is interested in Paganism or Wicca expresses an interest to me. Read more
Published 22 months ago by The Bookworm
3.0 out of 5 stars
h'mm
don't get me wrong, I like Ronald Hutton's writing, and appreciate that he has done much to promote modern witchcraft via denying that old chestnut 'the Burning Times' and so on. Read more
Published on 17 May 2011 by J. Turner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Triumph of the Moon
A fab book for anyone who wants to learn the history and practice of Paganism, Witchcraft or Wicca. Clearly written and very readable.
Published on 20 Feb 2011 by Mrs. R. M. A. Tinney
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Triumph
Excellent. A tour de force linking very different paths and cultural strands. I was fascinated by the section on Gerald Gardner; provides a fine insight into the recent history of... Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2010 by The Big Kahuna
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
- Books > History > Britain & Ireland
- Books > History > Cultural History
- Books > History > Other Historical Subjects > Witchcraft
- Books > History > Religious History > Christianity
- Books > History > World History
- Books > Mind, Body & Spirit > Earth Based Religions > Witchcraft & Wicca
- Books > Mind, Body & Spirit > Occultism > Magic
- Books > Mind, Body & Spirit > Other Religious & Spiritual Practices > Mysticism
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Mysticism
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Earth-Based Religions > Wicca
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > History
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Mysticism
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
