Modern Magic

What lies behind the world's enduring belief in magic, witchcraft, ghosts, visions, and the unseen powers said to exist beyond ordinary experience?

In Modern Magic, M. Schele de Vere presents a thoughtful nineteenth-century exploration of the mysterious phenomena that have fascinated humanity across cultures and throughout history. Rather than simply dismissing supernatural claims as superstition, Schele de Vere examines them through the lenses of history, philosophy, religion, and the emerging scientific thought of his era, inviting readers to consider whether extraordinary experiences may reflect laws of nature not yet fully understood.

Drawing upon historical accounts, folklore, eyewitness testimony, and contemporary scholarship, the book explores subjects including witchcraft, black and white magic, dreams, visions, ghosts, divination, spirit possession, animal magnetism, miraculous cures, and mysticism. Throughout, the author distinguishes between fraud, imagination, genuine psychological phenomena, and experiences that appear to challenge conventional explanations.

Blending careful investigation with intellectual curiosity, Modern Magic offers a fascinating glimpse into Victorian attitudes toward the occult while preserving a wealth of historical traditions and supernatural lore. Whether approached as a study of folklore, the history of occultism, or an early examination of psychic and mystical phenomena, this classic work remains an engaging exploration of humanity's timeless fascination with the unknown.