- Hardcover: 502 pages
- Publisher: OUP Oxford; 1st Edition edition (4 Nov 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0198207441
- ISBN-13: 978-0198207443
- Product Dimensions: 23.9 x 16 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
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877,776 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #32 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Mysticism
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk 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
Review
A remarkable book ... passionate yet written with calm and clarity ... a passionate, important and consistently fascinating book. (Journal of Ecclesiastical History )
Important insights. (Journal of Contemporary History )
The Triumph of the Moon, which is densely argued and heavily annotated, leaves little doubt that the history which modern occultism has constructed for itself is bunk ... It all makes for riveting reading and, despite Hutton's demolition of the supposed lineage of witchcraft, I am tempted after reading his book to become a witch myself. (Robert Irwin, The Independent )
Hutton's book is excellent ... Hutton uses his historical skills to tease apart some of the themes in this popular rural romanticism, and to locate their purely modern origin. (T. M. Luhrmann, Times Literary Supplement )
An excellent study of the only religion England gave the world: pagan witchcraft. Scholarly and incisive, writing with verve and passion, Hutton exposes the Victorian fascination with the pagan ... Hutton writes a brilliant history of a faith that draws on ancient texts yet speaks to present concerns. (Kevin Sharpe, The Sunday Times )
Important insights. (Journal of Contemporary History )
The Triumph of the Moon, which is densely argued and heavily annotated, leaves little doubt that the history which modern occultism has constructed for itself is bunk ... It all makes for riveting reading and, despite Hutton's demolition of the supposed lineage of witchcraft, I am tempted after reading his book to become a witch myself. (Robert Irwin, The Independent )
Hutton's book is excellent ... Hutton uses his historical skills to tease apart some of the themes in this popular rural romanticism, and to locate their purely modern origin. (T. M. Luhrmann, Times Literary Supplement )
An excellent study of the only religion England gave the world: pagan witchcraft. Scholarly and incisive, writing with verve and passion, Hutton exposes the Victorian fascination with the pagan ... Hutton writes a brilliant history of a faith that draws on ancient texts yet speaks to present concerns. (Kevin Sharpe, The Sunday Times )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 59 people found the following review helpful
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.
9 of 9 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.
53 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As several people have already said here, the incomparable Ronald Hutton has done the Pagan community an immense service with _Triumph of the Moon_. Indeed, he achieves the near-impossible: he has produced an academic monograph on the origins of modern Pagan witchcraft capable of satisfying those on the inside (Pagans) _and_ those on the outside (academics and society at large).
Hutton brings his characteristic wit and penetrating insight to bear upon the 'history' of modern witchcraft, and the result is simultaneously a sobering and an uplifting read. This is no mere hatchet job on the always-shaky historical claims of Gardner _et al_; it is a wide-ranging and extremely intelligent study of social, intellectual and spiritual trends in Britain during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, which places the modern Craft in its worldly context. A succession of poets, academics, cunning folk, anthropologists, Masons and occultists are discussed, illuminating social currents of the day, and exploring the contribution of each to the great mosaic that became the modern Craft.
The myths, too, are explored: Margaret Murray, 'the burning times', Gardner's Book of Shadows and the myth of prehistoric 'Great Goddess' are all carefully examined, and gently (or not so gently) punctured. Yet I cannot emphasise enough that this is not an attack on Paganism - that it can only, in fact, make it stronger. The first (Gardnerian) witches' claims to the antiquity of their tradition may have been spurious, but Hutton makes it clear that this removes nothing from the fact that there was 'something in the water', so to speak, of early twentieth century society. Far from appearing a deceitful aberration, Gardner and others are shown to be expressive of a mood of their times, taking the logical next step in giving Paganism a structure and greater definition.
Two caveats (because I feel I ought to...): 1) The focus - both in historial chapters and in the sociological case study at the end - is upon coven witchcraft, with little space for solitary workers (although this is perfectly reasonable in terms of what Hutton is trying to); 2) From an article in 'Pagan Dawn' a little while back, I gather that Hutton's research is ongoing, and there's a possibility of a second edition at some point in the future!
Hutton is an engaging and lucid writer, as adept at discussing long-term social trends as he is at providing lively pen-portraits of the various writers and witches who parade through his pages. An enjoyable and an enlightening read for anyone with an interest in the Craft or in 20th century social history. Wonderful.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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 1 month ago by Celestial Elf
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 1 month ago by B. Scott
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 4 months ago by Willow
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 10 months ago by The Bookworm
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 12 months ago by J. Turner
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 15 months ago by Mrs. R. M. A. Tinney
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 21 months ago by The Big Kahuna
the triumph of the moon
A fascinating and well-researched account of pagan history through the ages. It could be considered quite heavy-going, but a must for anyone with a real interest.
Published on 1 Dec 2009 by Wendy Trevennor
Contextual and respectful
At last a narrative context for all those individual witch voices. All disciplines benefit from their own development being scripted in retrospect and this has been painfully... Read more
Published on 12 May 2009 by J. R. Moss
Interesting but .....
Ronald huttons book is no doubt going to be of interest to anyone in the modern Neo-pagan Wiccan tradition or those interested in 'the rebirth' of Witchcraft. Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2009 by Ogmios
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