Raising Hell: Amazon.ca: Robert Masello: Books

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It's always a pleasure to find a book of history so well written that I lose track of time while I'm reading it. Masello has collected the exploits of prominent sorcerers and alchemists, secret societies, rituals and key tools of black magic, without sinking into a subjective analysis of the morality of these occult arts.

Product Description

Here, in one spellbinding volume, is a history of the major occult arts as they have been practiced from ancient Babylon to the present day. Raising Hell weaves history with myths, quotes, anecdotes, and illustrations, to provide a vivid chronicle of the evolution of the occult arts. This definitive source offers a compelling look at the black arts and those who risked their lives to explore them.

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Customer Reviews

21 Reviews

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

Average Customer Review

4.0 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars keeping the details to a bare minimum, Jun 7 2004

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"imdateless" (Somewhere in the USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Raising Hell (Paperback)

Raising Hell: A Concise History of the Black Arts and Those Who Dared Practice Them by Robert Masello is an concise but comprehensive overview of the history of occult arts throughout the centuries, filled with interesting stories and creative characters in search of power beyond their control. The book is divided into several distinct sections, each dealing with a specific aspect of the occult arts, giving the reader a wonderful glimpse into the powers which lie in the great beyond. Although it makes mention of numerous sources and reference material, by keeping the details to a bare minimum he only serves to wet one's whistle on the nature of his survey, making readers want to delve deeper into regions unknown. A great start for people interested in the occult but don't know where to start.

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2.0 out of 5 stars Not bad but..., Jan 13 2004

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Rebecca Davis (Birmingham, AL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Raising Hell (Paperback)

Not a bad book to begin with, but not something that is going to interest people above 'apprentice' level. The extensive bibliography has some good suggetions. Decent. I recommend it as a starting place for only for serious students. The only people I wouldn't recommend it to are those who confuse witchcraft (not a religion) for Wicca (a religion) (we don't want to offend those who want to white wash 'magic' and the occult).

I recommend anything by R. Cavendish as a better read.

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1.0 out of 5 stars another author confuses Satanism with Witchcraft, Jan 4 2004

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Rachel Haynes (Middlefield OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Raising Hell (Paperback)

Although this book has a lot of documented information about magicians and Satanists, it continues the widespread belief in the United States that Satanism and Witchcraft are the same religion. Over and over again, Masello interchanges the terms of devil worship and witchcraft. In so doing, he encourages the same beliefs that caused the burning times earlier in our history. As a witch, I was extremely offended by the author's comparing me to people who call down demons to do evil. Witches do not believe in a devil or demons, neither do they cast spells or make potions in order to do evil to another. Witchcraft teaches followers to bless others and to do good. Please do not read this book thinking you are getting honest information about witches and witchcraft. The information maybe true, but it is true only of people who worship the devil.

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad start
This book is a great resource for anyone who is just starting his or her study of the history of black magick. Read more

Published on Mar 28 2003 by Monica

5.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed!
234 pages full of history, dealing with necromancy, sorcery, astrology, alchemy and prophecy. The book also deals with great occult pioneers like the chain-smoking Helena... Read more

Published on Mar 21 2003 by Michael Valdivielso