An exploration of the bizarre and often political terrain of the fascination for witchcraft throughout recorded history. From the rapacious maenads and horned Gods of classical Greek legend to the modern-day practitioners of Wicca, tales of werewolves and vampires, demons and fairies, fairy godmothers and wicked hags, together with the history of the very real human tragedy of the abominable holocaust of the burning times in Europe, and the heroes who risked torture to speak out against the madness. Merlin, Melusine, Morgan le Fay, the villanous Medea and the heroic Joan of Arc, the hysterical youngsters of Salem and the men and women they accused are among the diverse and infamous characters whose stories are told here. Less well known are the ordinary victims; mainly women - and sometimes men, including Father Gradnier, a priest accused of bewitching a convent - denounced by ignorance and ill-will; and children, as young as four years old. The arts of magic, and the fear of those arts, are timeless and universal and so this exploration covers all continents and many different forms of witchcraft. Lavishly illustrated with classical paintings, medieval woodcuts and photographs in black and white and colour.