قصة السحرة: الفلكلور، التاريخ والخرافة

The Book of Witches: Folklore, History and Myth, published by Batsford Limited, ranks as one of Willow Winsham's most unusual books. It is believed that witches contributed to thwarting Napoleon's invasion of England, and in his book, Winsham refers to a surprising incident that occurred in 2017, when thousands of witches gathered in the United States and "performed rituals against US President Donald Trump." But it seems, the spells no longer work as they did in the past! Whether diabolical and perverted or liberated and revered, in this charming picture book Willow Winsham explores the many forms of the witch across folklore, history, and myth. From Hecate to Baba Yaga, from mutant rabbits to Macbeth, the book begins with a deep dive into the ideas of the witch in myth and fairy tales. It then moves on to explore popular beliefs and superstitions during the witch trials in Europe and the United States, one of the bloodiest and most turbulent trials in our collective history. The final section takes us into the modern era, exploring how the image and identity of the witch were reclaimed and reinvented, the importance of the Wheel of the Year, the emergence of Wicca and modern witchcraft, and beyond. Finally, and most importantly of all, we are left with the vital question: What have we learned from the past and what is the best way to deal with our shared – often horrific – history of the witch?