THE MAGIC BOOKS

Illuminating past beliefs.

We often associate medieval Europe with dogmatic Christianity, but Lawrence-Mathers, a professor of history at University of Reading, in Britain, paints a broader picture. There was a great interest in magic as well, within a Christian framework, she argues. She investigates the subject through 20 illuminated books, providing a wealth of beautiful images. Most of the books were created for royal clients and courts from the 9th to 16th centuries. “Medieval magic was not confined to the powerless and the poor,” the author writes. “This contradicts the long-held view that belief in magic is inherently irrational, and can only be the product of superstition or ignorance.” Predicting the future through astrology was a common purpose of the magic books, whose detailed charts explained the movement of planets through the zodiac signs and how they should be interpreted. There were also instructions for discerning a person’s future by reading their palm, directions for the best timing of major events, and recipes for a variety of extraordinary potions. Lawrence-Mathers notes that this was all taken very seriously, with magicians undergoing rigorous training. People of the time saw no contradiction between Christian faith and magic. In fact, astrology was seen as a way to discern God’s will, as written in the heavens. Some magic was meant to protect against satanic evil. There was the “official” magic of the courts and the darker sorcery that was tied to witches, which led to persecutions and purges. Royal personages themselves probably did not use magic, but there are plenty of cases of kings and nobles acting on magical advice. It adds up to a fascinating story in a handsome volume. As a bonus, the bibliography shows how digitized versions of the books can be accessed.

A learned and affectionate study of hidden knowledge.