Interest in magic and sorcery has been rekindled in recent years due to the success of popular fiction and film such as the Harry Potter novels and The Lord of the Rings. Surprisingly, much of that fancy is founded on fact. With more than 500 entries, The Encyclopedia of Magic and Alchemy is a fascinating A-to-Z reference to the history of the Western magical and alchemical traditions, sorting history from myth and folklore and examining mystical beliefs through the ages. With roots reaching back to ancient Egypt, the classical world, and the Middle East, magic and alchemy have often played...