Esoteric Histories – serie

Discover the beguiling history of witchcraft, magic, and superstition through the centuries in this stunningly illustrated title.A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult charts the extraordinary narrative of one of the most interesting and often controversial subjects in the world, covering everything from ancient animal worship and shamanism, through alchemy and divination, to modern Wicca and the resurgence of the occult in modern literature, cinema, and television.In this spell-binding book, you will find:A complete global history of the subject – from necromancy in the ancient world to European folk magic and witchcraft in the internet ageMore than 350 full-colour images combined with engaging, accessible text that brings the subject to life, with biographies of key figuresSpecial features on everything from Chinese oracle bones and the Knights Templar to magic and witchcraft in literature and film, and mystical plants like mandrake and belladonnaGlorious galleries of everything from talismans and poppets to crystals and Wiccan tools, and much moreOffering a comprehensive and accessible overview of everything from Japanese folklore and Indian witchcraft to the differences between black and white magic, and dispelling myths such as those surrounding the voodoo doll and Ouija, the book explores the common human fascination with spells, superstition, and the supernatural.The most comprehensive illustrated history of witchcraft available, A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult will enthral and fascinate you in equal measure – whether you are a believer or a sceptic.The Esoteric Histories seriesWith global sales of more than 300,000 copies, DK’s Esoteric Histories explore the rich traditions of mystical and mysterious subjects – from witchcraft to the world of the unexplained – weaving together religion, mythology, folklore, and the paranormal with art, culture, and science. Other titles in the series include A History of Ghosts, Spirits and the Supernatural; A History of Astrology, Divination and Prophecy; and A History of Horror, Fear and the Uncanny.

Discover the spine-tingling history of ghosts and the supernatural across the world in this stunningly illustrated title.A History of Ghosts, Spirits and the Supernatural charts the extraordinary narrative of one of the most intriguing and enduring subjects in the world, covering everything from Neolithic ancestor worship and ancient necromancy to modern-day ghost-hunting and “creepypasta” tales, and from the Japanese onryo to the La Llorona of Latin America.The perfect introduction to the subject, this fascinating volume charts the various ways in which spirits and the spirit world have been depicted in myth and religion, folklore, art, literature, and cinema, and how the idea of ghosts and otherworldly beings have resonated with people through history and across the world.In this blood-curdling book, you will find:More than 350 full-colour images combined with engaging, accessible text that brings the subject to life, with biographies of key figuresInfamous tales of haunted houses and ghost ships, séances and mediumship, poltergeists, possessions, and demonic encountersProfiles of other unearthly and undead beings such as werewolves and vampires, and galleries of everything from effigies and dolls to tools used in paranormal investigationsDetails of scientific theories that have attempted to shed light on the spirit phenomenon – such as “stone tape” theory and Kirlian photographyA serious and comprehensive, but accessible guide to the subject, A History of Ghosts, Spirits and the Supernatural will shock and delight you in equal measure – whether you are a believer or a sceptic.The Esoteric Histories seriesWith global sales of more than 300,000 copies, DK’s Esoteric Histories explore the rich traditions of mystical and mysterious subjects – from witchcraft to the world of the unexplained – weaving together religion, mythology, folklore, and the paranormal with art, culture, and science. Other titles in the series include A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult; A History of Astrology, Divination and Prophecy; and A History of Horror, Fear and the Uncanny.

Discover the mystical history of astrology and divination across the world in this stunningly illustrated title.A History of Astrology, Divination and Prophecy traces the journey of astrology from its roots in the 3rd century BCE, when ancient Mesopotamians studied celestial bodies with the aim of predicting the future, through its development into the distinct branches of Eastern astrology, Indian (Vedic) astrology, and Western astrology that we know today.Discover the stories of influential and learned seers, from the oracles of Ancient Greece to the 16th-century French philosopher and mystic Nostradamus. And explore how our fear of and fascination with astrology, divination, prediction, and prophecy have been depicted in art and literature.In this enchanting book, you will find:A complete global history of the subject – from Feng shui and necromancy to the Age of Aquarius and astrocartographyMore than 350 stunning full-colour images combined with engaging and accessible text, with fascinating feature boxes with additional information and biographies of key figuresSimple “how-to” instructions on the best known forms of divination – from how to read rune stones and the Tarot, to palmistry, numerology, and using the I ChingThe most comprehensive illustrated history of astrology ever produced, A History of Astrology, Divination and Prophecy will intrigue and inspire you in equal measure – whether you are completely new to the subject, or already a practitioner.The Esoteric Histories seriesWith global sales of more than 300,000 copies, DK’s Esoteric Histories explore the rich traditions of mystical and mysterious subjects – from witchcraft to the world of the unexplained – weaving together religion, mythology, folklore, and the paranormal with art, culture, and science. Other titles in the series include A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult; A History of Ghosts, Spirits and the Supernatural; and A History of Horror, Fear and the Uncanny.

Take a step – if you dare – into the shadows, and discover the blood-curdling history of horror across the world in this gruesomely illustrated title.A History of Horror, Fear and the Uncanny explores the dark and eerie landscapes of horror down the centuries – from prehistoric death rituals to modern interpretations in art, literature, and film.In this petrifying book, you will find:A complete global history of the subject – from ancient visions of the Underworld and horror in fairytales to Gothic horror and “creepypasta” talesMore than 350 stunning full-colour images combined with engaging and accessible textProfiles of infamous supernatural creatures – from ghosts and demons to banshees and changelings, and from Grendel to Baba Yaga and the Morrigan to the GolemProfiles of the scariest books and films of all time – from novels by Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, and Stephen King to movies like The Exorcist, The Shining, and Alien…in a stunning, giftable package with a specially commissioned cover artwork and gorily printed page edges.Discover how our experience and understanding of fear and terror have evolved through the ages, beginning with the ancient visions of a hellish Underworld. Encounter terrifying figures like Medusa and the Babylonian demon Pazuzu. And tread carefully through the medieval world, where a fear of the unknown stoked apocalyptic terror around the Black Death and gave rise to the danse macabre and the demonology of the Malleus Maleficarum.Delve into the folklore that gave birth to creatures of the night – from vampires and werewolves to the Japanese Kappa water demon and the cannibalistic Wendigo of Indigenous American lore. Witness the emergence of Gothic literature, with the terrifying and genre-defining works of authors like Mary Shelley, H. P. Lovecraft, and M. R. James. And learn how the 20th century saw a new wave of terror unleashed through Expressionist art, monsters in the movies, “body horror” films, and the “folk horror” revival.Whether you are a dedicated horror aficionado or simply curious, A History of Horror, Fear and the Uncanny isn’t just for Halloween… It is a thrilling – chilling – journey into the heart of darkness.The Esoteric Histories seriesWith global sales of more than 300,000 copies, DK’s Esoteric Histories explore the rich traditions of mystical and mysterious subjects – from witchcraft to the world of the unexplained – weaving together religion, mythology, folklore, and the paranormal with art, culture, and science. Other titles in the series include A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult; A History of Ghosts, Spirits and the Supernatural; and A History of Astrology, Divination and Prophecy.