Magic: Black and White Charms and Counter Charms

About this book

A charm may protect a doorway, a curse may threaten an enemy, and a village custom may survive long after its original explanation has been forgotten. T. Witton Davies examines magic through these everyday practices.

The book brings together beliefs about protective and harmful acts, considering the religious and social setting in which people used them. Its approach reflects early comparative studies of folklore. The stories reveal the practical anxieties that often sit behind magical language: illness, misfortune, envy and the hope of keeping a household safe.