Witches

A Compendium

By: Judika Illes, Frances F. Denney

Narrated by: Elizabeth Wiley

A compendium of witches through the ages, from earliest prehistory to some of the most significant modern practitioners, Witches explores who and what is a witch. Ranging from such famed historical figures as Marie Laveau, Tituba, Sybil Leek, Isobel Gowdie, and Countess Erzsebet Báthory (popularly known as the Blood Countess) to popular literary and cinematic figures such as Endora, the Scarlet Witch, Storm, and the Wicked Witch of the West, Illes offers a complete range of the history of witches.

Also included are the sacred (Baba Yaga, Lilith, Isis, Hekate, Diana, Aradia, Circe) and the profane (the Salem Witch trials and the Burning Times), plus travel tips for witches and a guide to the tools of the trade. Witches is appropriate for listeners of all ages and serves as an excellent and entertaining introduction for those fascinated by the topic.

Previously published in 2010 by Weiser Books as A Weiser Field Guide to Witches, this book has been updated for new witches as well as a new era.

©2024 Judika Illes (P)2024 Dreamscape Media

Everything you want to know about witches

The author takes the reader for a walk through the history of witches in the world. We get backstories and information about all the witches throughout the ages. This includes comics, movies, stage and television shows. There is a lot of good information here.

Meh. Very elementary, very bland

Judika does a nice job of glossing through her topic here, but unlike some of her other books she seems to shy away from details and depth that could have made this more of an expansive and valuable look at this fascinating topic. Her choices of actual people to portray as leaders in various magickal movements over the ages is, of course, subjective. Some are obvious, of course. But there are many more writers and others who have played big roles in the development of witchcraft through the ages and in antiquity who are inexplicably absent. For instance, she mentions the upsurge in interest in the goddess titan Hekate in recent times. She cites the works of Cyndi Brannen, yet ignores the contributions of writers-teachers Jason Miller and Jack Grayle, to name a couple, who have made major contributions to Hekate devotion and lore. And there are at least a couple of very modern choices she includes who do a lot of talking and writing but fail to really say much that is new or even interesting. Overall, I'd give this book a miss; there are better options on the shelves.