Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
Oxford University Press (2001), Edition: New Ed, 512 pages
Description
'a brilliant history' The Sunday Times 'makes for riveting reading' The Independent Modern pagan witchcraft is arguably the only fully-formed religion England has given the world, and has now spread across four continents. This second edition of The Triumph of the Moon extensively revises the first full-scale scholarly study of modern pagan witchcraft. Ronald Hutton examines the nature and development of this religion, and offers a history of attitudes to witchcraft, paganism and magic in British society since 1800. Its pages reveal village cunning folk, Victorian ritual magicians, classicists and archaeologists, leaders of woodcraft and scouting movements, Freemasons, and members of rural secret societies. We also find some of the leading figures of English literature, from the Romantic poets to W. B. Yeats, D. H. Lawrence and Robert Graves, as well as the main personalities who have represented pagan witchcraft to the public world since 1950. Thriller writers like Dennis Wheatley, and films and television programmes, get similar coverage, as does tabloid journalism. The material is by its nature often sensational, and care is taken throughout to distinguish fact from fantasy, in a manner not previously applied to most of the stories involved. Meticulously researched, The Triumph of the Moon presents an authoritative insight into an aspect of modern cultural history which has attracted sensational publicity but has hitherto been little understood. This edition incorporates new research carried out by the author as well as research by others who have been inspired by this book over the twenty years since its first publication.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member paradoxosalpha
Ronald Hutton’s history of 20th century Witchcraft and Wicca is a comprehensive and compelling examination of the subject. No other book to date gives such a clear and entertaining view of the origins and development of religious Witchcraft in the modern world. Hutton clearly has substantial
The book is divided into two sections, and the first section is a set of interlinked historical essays that describe various movements, ideas, and institutions that served as contributory streams to religious Witchcraft. These contributors include Romantic literary paganism, the Frazerian and ritualist schools of anthropology, folklorism, Freemasonry, ceremonial magic, Thelema, and Woodcraft Chivalry, among others. In the second section, Hutton provides a full narrative of the emergence and evolution of modern British Witchcraft, beginning with Gerald Gardner, and addressing all the major leaders, groups, “traditions,” and schools. The unique mutations of the Craft in North America are addressed only to the extent that their influence migrated back to England. (Jack Parsons’ abortive Witchcraft thus passes without notice.) Hutton also traces the reactions of the press, politics, popular culture, and the academy to the increasing presence and visibility of Witchcraft.
In light of Aleister Crowley’s published disdain for “witches,” it is ironic that so many British Wiccan luminaries claimed to have had instruction from the Beast. Hutton carefully checks these allegations against Crowley’s own exhaustive diaries; Gardner is the only one who seems to have had a genuine claim in that department.
Hutton calls Wicca “the only religion England has ever given the world.” I don’t know that I would agree with him, since despite the prudent claims of Freemasonry to be “religious, not a religion,” it probably qualifies as well, from a scholar’s perspective. In fact, Hutton’s grasp of Masonry leaves a little bit to be desired; as for instance when he calls the Royal Arch “the highest, most exclusive and most prestigious of all Masonic degrees.” (p. 219) Where it counts in relation to his central topic, however, Hutton delivers the goods, instancing such items as this Fellow Craft ritual closing circa 1800:
"Happy have we met, Happy have we been,
"Happy may we part, And happy meet again!" (p. 56)
I find it hard to imagine how any present-day Witch can afford to be without the information in this book. Anyone with any experience of Wicca should be fascinated by it, and anyone interested in contemporary religion will be enriched by it. After having read it cover-to-cover, I continue to take my copy off the shelf for purposes of reference and research.
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sympathy for his subjects, and he is respectful to both living and dead practitioners, but he does not settle for unsubstantiated claims, and he deftly dispels a number of myths and long-standing controversies. The book is divided into two sections, and the first section is a set of interlinked historical essays that describe various movements, ideas, and institutions that served as contributory streams to religious Witchcraft. These contributors include Romantic literary paganism, the Frazerian and ritualist schools of anthropology, folklorism, Freemasonry, ceremonial magic, Thelema, and Woodcraft Chivalry, among others. In the second section, Hutton provides a full narrative of the emergence and evolution of modern British Witchcraft, beginning with Gerald Gardner, and addressing all the major leaders, groups, “traditions,” and schools. The unique mutations of the Craft in North America are addressed only to the extent that their influence migrated back to England. (Jack Parsons’ abortive Witchcraft thus passes without notice.) Hutton also traces the reactions of the press, politics, popular culture, and the academy to the increasing presence and visibility of Witchcraft.
In light of Aleister Crowley’s published disdain for “witches,” it is ironic that so many British Wiccan luminaries claimed to have had instruction from the Beast. Hutton carefully checks these allegations against Crowley’s own exhaustive diaries; Gardner is the only one who seems to have had a genuine claim in that department.
Hutton calls Wicca “the only religion England has ever given the world.” I don’t know that I would agree with him, since despite the prudent claims of Freemasonry to be “religious, not a religion,” it probably qualifies as well, from a scholar’s perspective. In fact, Hutton’s grasp of Masonry leaves a little bit to be desired; as for instance when he calls the Royal Arch “the highest, most exclusive and most prestigious of all Masonic degrees.” (p. 219) Where it counts in relation to his central topic, however, Hutton delivers the goods, instancing such items as this Fellow Craft ritual closing circa 1800:
"Happy have we met, Happy have we been,
"Happy may we part, And happy meet again!" (p. 56)
I find it hard to imagine how any present-day Witch can afford to be without the information in this book. Anyone with any experience of Wicca should be fascinated by it, and anyone interested in contemporary religion will be enriched by it. After having read it cover-to-cover, I continue to take my copy off the shelf for purposes of reference and research.
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LibraryThing member gercmbyrne
The most important book ever written on neo-paganism and the new occult traditions. Hutton is an outstanding historian, and the material is presented in such a way that the reader is given all possible theories, and then the most likely based on the evidence. Myths, modern and ancient are debunked
The inventor of Wicca (Gerald Gardner) is placed in his correct context - not of a mage presenting the secrets of pagan witchcraft to the world but a showman inventing a pseudo-history for his new occult movement.
Hutton treats neo-paganism and Wicca with respect and tolerance while cleaning away the lies and mis-information. He also address the origins of the neopagan movement - a fascinating tale of gentlemen playing at "druids", enlightemment poets and Late Victorian Spiritualism.
Anyone interested in the occult, and in witchcraft should read this book and anyone interested in Paganism/Neo-paganism should definately read it. One can only emerge better educated and more aware of the reality rather than the mythology, of neo-paganism
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and nowhere has this had a more profound effect than on Wicca.The inventor of Wicca (Gerald Gardner) is placed in his correct context - not of a mage presenting the secrets of pagan witchcraft to the world but a showman inventing a pseudo-history for his new occult movement.
Hutton treats neo-paganism and Wicca with respect and tolerance while cleaning away the lies and mis-information. He also address the origins of the neopagan movement - a fascinating tale of gentlemen playing at "druids", enlightemment poets and Late Victorian Spiritualism.
Anyone interested in the occult, and in witchcraft should read this book and anyone interested in Paganism/Neo-paganism should definately read it. One can only emerge better educated and more aware of the reality rather than the mythology, of neo-paganism
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LibraryThing member tole_lege
Another stalwart. Another one getting on in years, but still if not unique, then groundbreaking at the time.
Hutton's research is sound and well supported (as one would expect). He makes his own views known about some still controversial subjects (Leland, Old Dorothy, etc.) but his views are
Basic background reading.
Hutton's research is sound and well supported (as one would expect). He makes his own views known about some still controversial subjects (Leland, Old Dorothy, etc.) but his views are
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supported by the evidence (which is refreshing, if nothing else, considering other things written in this area).Basic background reading.
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LibraryThing member EvaElisabeth
A good book though somewhat criticised in traditional pagan circles as the author seems to have made his conclusions and then selected the evidence he was going to include to support that evidence. Nevertheless a good adition to any pagan library.
LibraryThing member earthlistener
A really informative and intriguing book which was very, very well researched. I learned a lot about the development and origin of modern paganism and Wicca, not so much on where it came from as much as what happened afterward. The book tells over the history of how various aspects of paganism is
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prefect rived and how it has changed, and then over actual events of how it came to be. A really detailed book. I enjoyed reading it greatly. Show Less
LibraryThing member ritaer
Having recently read Hutton's latest, _The Witch_, I reread this. I think it holds up well. More recent work clears up some of the ambiguity between witchcraft as proposed pagan precursor religion in Europe and witchcraft as widely spread idea of malignant magic users. I would recommend this work
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despite the controversy concerning it. Show Less
LibraryThing member urnmo
So thorough! So well researched! Such a loving but academic tone! This one was a joy to read.
LibraryThing member scarylullabies
Triumph of the Moon is an academic work and is therefore full of thoroughly researched and deeply interesting information - presented in a very dry and inaccessible way.
LibraryThing member cbloky
Was an interesting book, differently read more like a text book and wasn't an easy read. The book did cover lots of facts and I was glad i have been a practicing Wiccan for years before reading the book, this helped me to understand more what was being talked about and i also new of a lot of the
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people being mentioned. When the book was done i was left with a bit more of an understanding of the history of Wicca and a bunch of more books are my to read list. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999
Physical description
512 p.; 7.5 x 0.8 inches
ISBN
0192854496 / 9780192854490
Local notes
MJW
Other editions
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