Witchcraft, Magic and Culture, 1736-1951

Most studies of witchcraft and magic have been concerned with the era of the witch trials, a period which officially came to an end in Britain with the passing of the Witchcraft Act of 1736. However, the majority of people continued to fear witches and put their faith in magic long after this law was passed. This book traces the history of witchcraft and magic from 1736 to the year 1951, when the passing of the Fraudulent Mediums Act finally erased the concept of witchcraft from the statute books. This study examines the extent to which witchcraft, magic, and fortune telling influenced the thoughts and actions of the people of England and Wales in a period when the forces of progress are often thought to have vanquished such beliefs.