The World of Magic, by Ernesto de Martino

The World of Magic, by Ernesto de Martino. 1972 paperback. 223 pages, very nice condition. RARE.

A landmark ethnographic study that examines magic not as simple superstition, but as a vital cultural and psychological tool used by humans to overcome existential crises and secure their sense of presence in the world. The idea of magic challenges our basic concepts of reality and the natural order of things. Therefore, most people will deny the existence of magical powers. But for some men, the magic is as real as science is for others. The Australian aborigine will die if pierced by an arrow that has been “sung” no matter how superficial the wound. This astounding volume shows how prejudice barricades entry into the world of magic; it reveals societies where magic is a way of life, where sorcerer, shaman, diviner, fire-walker are priests of a religion powerful enough to divert nature from its expected course. Illustrated with arcane drawings and rare photographs, The World of Magic ranges from spells to metaphysics – an enthralling initiation into a world as old as man.