Charms, Charmers and Charming

' In this ? New Age' of mass production of manuals of magic and Wicca-books, it is amazing how little scholarship has been produced about practical uses of magic, past and present. This rich book, authored by the leading charm experts, provides us not only with pieces of verbal magic, but also with interpretations, discussions and thoughtful comparisons. Charms, once considered a minor genre of folklore, are here opened up as a powerful source of diverse knowledge about European heritage, human thought, worldview, social conflicts and about magical solutions that charmers have offered to crisis situations worldwide. ' - Ülo Valk, Professor of Estonian and Comparative Folklore, University of Tartu, Estonia, and President, International Society for Folk Narrative Research

' Thanks to its eclectic manner this book is a perfect source of information on what has happened in the fi eld of charm-related research lately. Last but not least, those who are interested in specific themes, methods, or types of charms will find the editor' s introduction and the detailed table of contents with sub-headlines of essays particularly helpful. Charming, indeed. ' - Toms ? encis, Numen

' The volume is essential reading for anyone interested in the study of charms. For the non-converted, it is an excellent introduction to the complexities and subtleties of a fascinating subject. In short, this collection augurs most positively for our Silver Age of charm research, which appears tobe in safe hands. ' - Bairbre N? ? Fhloinn, Folklore