Magic in the Cloister

“In addition to exploring manuscripts and their contents in detail, Magic in the Cloister is original in its focus on a known group of men who owned and read these books and perhaps tried out some of the rituals in them. This is unusual because many manuscripts of magical texts have been lost, or we do not know who owned them. The book therefore presents much new information about the readers of magical texts. It also approaches this issue from a new angle. Sophie Page shows that magical texts could also appeal to people who were part of the religious establishment (monks in a wealthy monastery) and who had a monastic vocation.” —Catherine Rider, University of Exeter

“Magic in the Cloister offers a fascinating picture of learned monks reading and even putting into practice magical texts that were kept in the library of their monastery. St Augustine's, Canterbury, offered not only a haven for prayer but also a laboratory for occult activity.” —Charles Burnett, The Warburg Institute, University of London—School of Advanced Study