Guide to Magic, Witchcraft and the Paranormal: The Romance of Sorcery

First published in 2005. The shadow side of Sax Rohmer is revealed in this long unobtainable volume; widely known as the author of the popular Fu Manchu books, he was also a dedicated scholar of the occult and an adept in the mystic arts. Written for the layman, his only non-fiction work is this guide to the realm of magic in its many forms, beginning with the birth of sorcery in ancient Egypt. The Moslem djinns, the sibylls, the philosophy of the Magi, modes of divination, and magic of the Brahmins are all examined, as are the manifestations of sorcery in Europe including witchcraft at the French royal court, and the infamous witch trials of Scotland. The stories of key figures such as Apollonius of Tyana, Nostradamus, Dr John Dee and Cagliostro are recounted in detail, and there is a comprehensive index from alchemy to zodiac. Rohmer aims to bridge the gulf that has opened as a result of modernity, between revealed religion and the ancient truths that need to be sought anew. There is no better general introduction to magic, sorcery and the paranormal.