Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #774918 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 340 pages

Synopsis
This book reveals a remarkable picture of the revival of witchcraft in England during the 1930s and 40s. Through years of research, the author has pieced together the story of how retired civil servant, Gerald Gardner, became involved in the worlds of naturism and folklore, which led him to discover a strange theatre run by an esoteric magical group known as the Crotona Fellowship. Here, he made contact with a family of hereditary witches, whom the author has been able to identify, whose lineage dates back to Napoleonic times. The personalities of two key figures in the story, 'Old Dorothy' Clutterbuck, in whose house Gardner was initiated, and Dafo, his High Priestess, are brought to life, and photographs appear for the first time. Whatever the truth about Dorothy's involvement with witchcraft, extracts from her diaries, never before made public, reveal her as a pagan at heart. New light is shed on the momentous ritual the witches carried out in 1940 when invasion threatened, including the probable identity of those who gave their lives in the cause.

Few witches, pagans or other students of modern religious movements will fail to be fascinated by the carefully researched revelations in this important book.

From the Author
A few words from the author about the book
This book reveals a remarkable picture of the revival of witchcraft in England during the 1930s and 40s. Through years of research, the author has pieced together the story of how retired civil servant, Gerald Gardner, became involved in the worlds of naturism and folklore, which led him to discover a strange theatre run by an esoteric magical group known as the Crotona Fellowship. Here he made contact with a family of hereditary witches, whom the author has been able to identify, whose lineage dates back to Napoleonic times. The personalities of two key figures in the story, 'Old Dorothy' Clutterbuck, in whose house Gardner was initiated, and Dafo, his High Priestess, are brought to life, and photographs of them appear for the first time. Whatever the truth about Dorothy's involvement with witchcraft, extracts from her diaries, never before made public, reveal her as a pagan at heart. New light is shed on the momentous ritual the witches carried out in 1940 when invasion threatened, including the probable identity of those who gave their lives in the cause. Few witches, pagans or other students of modern religious movements will fail to be fascinated by the carefully researched revelations in this important book.

Customer Reviews

A fascinating account of research on the beginnings of Wicca
Philip Heselton is perhaps better known as a writer on Earth Mysteries, but in this book he has taken on the subject of the origins of Wicca. As well as giving an excellent account of what was already known on the subject, he also describes the results of a great deal of original historical research he has done on the subject. While the results fall short of conclusive proof that Gerald Gardner's account of his initiation into a surviving witch coven is true in all respects, Philip Heselton has turned up evidence confirming a number of previously unconfirmed aspects of Gardner's account. Mr. Heselton has even located a number of very plausible candidates for the identity of the other members of the New Forest Coven. While the origins of Wicca still remain uncertain, this book does a good deal to part the mists surrounding them.

I find it striking that Gardner's story has withstood a good deal of reaserch by a number of able schollars, Mr. Heselton included: if it was a fabrication, it was one considerably more bulletproof than was required to fool the people Gardner told it to.

Fabulous
Great book!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this (and its sequel), interesting research. Well written, a stunner.
Featuring slightly newer research than 'Triumph of the Moon' by Ronald Hutton - I would say it is a must read.
Not everyone will agree with the conclusions made in the book, but the evidence is previously unseen. Photos, diary entries...

This is a great book.
This is a great book; once I picked it up I just couldn't put it down. Anyone how has read and enjoyed Ron Hutton's `Triumph of the Moon' would find this book of great interest as it adds, updates and sometimes questions information found in that book.