Magic, body, and the self in eighteenth-century Sweden / by Jacqueline Van Gent.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Van Gent, Jacqueline.

Series:

Studies in medieval and Reformation traditions ; v. 135.

Studies in medieval and Reformation traditions, 1573-4188 ; v. 135

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Witchcraft--Sweden--History--18th century.

Witchcraft.

Magic--Sweden--History--18th century.

Magic.

Trials (Witchcraft)--Sweden--History--18th century.

Trials (Witchcraft).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (236 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Contrary to previous assumptions, magic remained an integral part of everyday life in Enlightenment Europe. This book demonstrates that the endurance of magical practices, both benevolent and malevolent, was grounded in early modern perceptions of an interconnected body, self and spiritual cosmos. Drawing on eighteenth-century Swedish witchcraft trials, which are exceptionally detailed, these notions of embodiment and selfhood are explored in depth. The nuanced analysis of healing magic, the role of emotions, the politics of evidence and proof and the very ambiguity of magical rituals reveals a surprising syncretism of Christian and pre-Christian elements. The book provides a unique insight to the history of magic and witchcraft, the study of eighteenth-century religion and culture, and to our understanding of body and self in the past.

Contents:

Honour and social control in witchcraft trials

The fluid self

Magic and the body

Healing as counter-magic

The ambiguity of magic.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [201]-221) and index.

ISBN:

1-282-40022-3

9786612400223

90-474-2445-X

OCLC:

644522739

Publisher Number:

10.1163/ej.9789004171145.i-228 DOI