The dark, deep roots of Britain's fascination with witchcraft

[icymist]

As the cinema queues form again for our seasonal dose of hobbits, wizards, and strangely aggressive dwarves, there seems to be a big question hanging in the air — larger even than whether the intrepid hairballs will reach the next unpronounceable town.

It is this. What does our fascination with watching them yomp to-and-fro across Middle-earth tell us about Britain’s beliefs today? More precisely, what does it reveal about our attitude to magic and the supernatural?

To put the question in context, in 1937 J R R Tolkien published his neo-medieval epic, The Hobbit or There and Back Again.

Its magic-fuelled adventure was an instant hit.

Yet in 1944, only seven years later, juries at London’s austere Old Bailey were still gamely convicting women under the ancient Witchcraft Act 1735.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/dominicselwood/100252072/the-dark-deep-roots-of-britains-fascination-with-witchcraft/

[PADemD]

1. Those hats remind me

Of the old traditional Welsh hats, except their hats were flat on top.

[icymist]

2. They're a nice looking group of gals...

The picture is what drew me into the article!

[PADemD]

3. Interesting article.

Thanks for posting!

I put the author's new book on my wish list.

[idendoit]

4. Okay, witch one is Old Dorothy Clutterbucket?

The handmade besoms are a nice touch.