Witch: The Wild Ride from Wicked to Wicca

Since the beginning of recorded history, people have feared black magic and instituted harsh penalties against anyone who ""troubled the atmosphere, excited tempests... or tormented their fellow-creatures with sores and diseases."" It wasn't until the 15th century that women, the ""defective"" gender formed from Adam's crooked rib, became the target of fertile imaginations and wrongful accusations, however. Candace Savage (Beauty Queens) in Witch: The Wild Ride from Wicked to Wicca unravels the mystery surrounding one of history's most fantastic figures. Detailing the evolution of the witch from her original incarnation as a young woman to the comical old hag of popular culture today, Savage spins an irresistible tale for feminists and fans of the occult. The recent revival of interest in black magic will help this colorful, illustrated volume appeal to younger readers as well. (Greystone [Sterling, dist.], $21.95 144p ISBN 1-55054-801-8)