# The Magic Books: A History of Enchantment in 20 Medieval Manuscripts

The Magic Books: A History of Enchantment in 20 Medieval Manuscripts by Anne Lawrence-Mathers explores medieval magic through twenty illuminated manuscripts, tracing changing attitudes to magic and science across Europe. Its focus on historic texts and their illustrations makes it a fit for readers interested in medieval history, manuscript culture and the history of magic.

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- Market: UK
- Language: en-GB
- Currency: GBP
- Category: Books, Music & Hobbies > Books, Music & Movies > Books & Comics
- Price: 22.14 GBP
- Previous price: 30.00 GBP
- Discount: 26%
- Price checked: 2026-11-12T14:56:31.415Z
- Rating: 4.5 / 5
- Reviews: 17

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## At a glance

- Examines twenty illuminated manuscripts associated with medieval magic.
- Spans medieval Europe from the Carolingian Empire to Renaissance Italy and Tudor England.
- Discusses works including The Sworn Book of Honorius and the Picatrix.

## Pros

- The manuscript-led structure gives readers concrete historical sources rather than a broad, detached survey.
- The stated 368-page length supports a substantial treatment of the subject.

## Specifications

### Publication
- Publisher: Yale University Press
- Publication date: 11 Mar. 2025
- Language: English
- Print length: 368 pages
- ISBN-10: 0300244436
- ISBN-13: 978-0300244434
### Physical details
- Dimensions: 16.26 x 3.81 x 23.62 cm
- Weight listed: 972 g

## A good fit for

- Readers interested in medieval magic, occult history and changing relationships between magic and science.
- Readers who value illustrated manuscript history and art.

## Less suited to

- Readers seeking practical spell instructions or a general history of magic across all periods.

## Customer feedback

Aggregate ratings are generally positive, with most in the four- or five-star categories and some three-star ratings. Without written review feedback, these figures do not explain what readers liked or disliked, so they offer limited guidance on the book's depth, writing or illustrations.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does The Magic Books cover?
It explores medieval magic through twenty illuminated manuscripts and considers how attitudes to magic and science changed over time.
### Which historical periods and places are included?
The publisher description spans the Carolingian Empire, Renaissance Italy and Tudor England.
### Is this a practical guide to spells?
The supplied description presents it as an illustrated history of manuscripts and medieval beliefs, not a practical spell guide.

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## Images

![The Magic Books: A History of Enchantment in 20 Medieval Manuscripts — 1](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/i/BvTJaTSf3b2nqTqhArZg6WpBfAoZpT1NNZEc5XTaxnZdBzt24lE0d2Q3zxdw90dNVUMwMqXuUTA4w3IjHHrALuc73Dxo3B1rMB3q56mewkmYxcdgWrnU.jpg)