Witchcraft is an enchanting account of a magical practice and a comprehensive volume that introduces the reader to the fascinating and complex history of witchcraft, from the goddess mythologies of ancient cultures to its contemporary adoption by artists and activists.

The archetype of the witch, rooted in legend, folklore and myth, evolves from tales such as Ulysses and Circe, the Celtic Cerridwen or Hecate, the fierce ruler of the night under the moonlight. Over the centuries, the witch has changed in form and meaning, transforming into a mother, a nymph or a harpy, a seductress and a destroyer, reflecting the fears, desires and struggles of each era.

Edited by Jessica Hundley and co-edited by the writer, academic and practitioner Pam Grossman, this visual chronicle is a deep immersion into the symbolism underpinning the traditions of witchcraft, explored through the history of art. Witches have been muses to artists such as Francisco José de Goya and Albrecht Dürer, as well as to the Surrealist circle of Remedios Varo, Leonora Carrington and Leonor Fini, who reinterpreted feminine magic with a modern perspective. Their spell extends to tales and dramatic literature, from the poisoned apples of the Brothers Grimm to the ‘witch sisters’ in Shakespeare’s Macbeth or L. Frank Baum’s iconic Wicked Witch of the West.

The book also shows how the figure of the witch has moved from persecution to empowerment, becoming a contemporary symbol of defiance and non-conformity. With essays by modern practitioners such as Kristen J. Sollée and Judika Illes, and interviews with authors and scholars such as Madeline Miller and Juliet Diaz, Witchcraft brings together a wide variety of cultural traditions that embrace magic as a path to spiritual exploration and creative catharsis.

Key features:

• Binding: Hardback.
• Pages: 520.
• Language: Spanish.