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Compendium Maleficarum: The Montague Summers Edition (Dover Occult) Paperback – September 1, 1988

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 132 ratings
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This extraordinary document, considered one of the most important manuals ever compiled on witchcraft, offers striking insight into the early seventeenth-century mind and society's attempts to cope with the evils it saw manifested in sorcery.
A collection of writings by the Ambrosian monk Francesco Maria Guazzo, the Compendium comprehensively and penetratingly describes the entire practice and profession of witchcraft. First published in 1608, the commentaries came at an appropriate time. Contemporary accounts noted that witchcraft and sorcery had "spread in all directions," leaving "no country, town, village, or district, no class of society" free from the practice. This probing work, by a distinguished writer and scholar who perceived the devil as an evil force seeking to destroy men's bodies and souls, was an attempt to help man live piously and devoutly, thus guarding against such seductions and manipulations.
Reproduced from a rare limited edition published in 1929 and supplemented with many erudite editorial notes by the Rev. Montague Summers, the Compendium Maleficarum includes profoundly serious discussions of witches' pacts with the devil, finely detailed descriptions of witches' powers, poisons, and crimes; sleep-inducing spells and methods for removing them, apparitions of demons and specters, diseases caused by demons, and other topics. Also examined in detail are witches' alleged powers to transport themselves from place to place, create living things, make beasts talk and the dead reappear; witches' use of religion to heal the sick, laws observed by witches to cause and cure illness, differences between demoniacs and the bewitched, and other subjects from the realm of the supernatural.
Here is an encyclopedic tract of incalculable worth to the historians and student of the occult and anyone intrigued by necromantic lore, sabbats, sorceries, and trafficking with demons.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Dover Publications
  4. Publication date
    September 1, 1988
  5. Dimensions
    6.3 x 0.47 x 9.45 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    048625738X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0486257389
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Compendium Maleficarum was the ultimate field guide for the beginning demonologist in the 17th century. Guazzo's Compendium was accepted by his contemporaries as the authoritative manuscript on witchcraft. Later demonologists continued to hail the conciseness and clarity with which Guazzo analyzes the practice. The Compendium not only gives an organized account of the subject matter but provides a glimpse at the Christian view of witchcraft during the early 17th century.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dover Publications; Montague Summers edition (September 1, 1988)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 048625738X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0486257389
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.3 x 0.47 x 9.45 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 132 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
132 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Apocalypse Devotee
5.0 out of 5 stars Pizzagate circa 16th century.
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
My GOD! This is fascinating. It reads like a renaissance tabloid, but with life or death consequences. A bit less sex obsessed than Malleus Maleficarum, but so detailed I find myself wondering if I may not by some misfortune happen upon a circle of daemonic dancing, who will then follow me without breaking a step in their diabolical dancing! Let us all be thankful the churches have a good deal less societal power, and let's hope it stays that way. It's not a far jaunt from pizzagate to burning witches.
11 people found this helpful
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Johnny Bluerose
5.0 out of 5 stars You must know the subject matter to enjoy
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2021
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If you enjoy this subject matter you will enjoy this book if you don't believe in this subject matter it would be a waste of money for you
One person found this helpful
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C. Moore
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2014
Verified Purchase
Really easy read with a lot of examples of the mindset towards supposed witches seven hundred years ago. Full of interesting stories about incidents regarding the activities of witches and their subsequent trials. Also, lots ofdetailed woodcut art, which is one of the reasons the book is so famous. Good for the serious scholar or casual reader.
7 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Holy crap! This is awesome
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2016
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Holy crap! This is awesome! Saw the Malleus Maleficarum and decided to order it cause what the hell, u know?? Saw this on the "often bought with this product" lil dealie at the bottom, and it's super awesome. Admittedly I have not finished with it yet, but from what I've read so far, in addition to giving insight into the European witchunts of the period, the stuff in it is just interesting. Major imagination on that Guazzo character.
5 people found this helpful
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Jeremy
5.0 out of 5 stars Compendium Maleficarum
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2020
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This is one of the most important books on witchcraft. I recommend this as well as Maleus Maleficarum and Demonology of King James I.
3 people found this helpful
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John Phillips
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2015
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Montague Summers never disappoints in his treatment of the occult and its very real dangers
3 people found this helpful
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Jacqueline Potokar
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2017
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Made for the perfect gift.
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Top reviews from other countries

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adam
5.0 out of 5 stars Wah ha ha
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2023
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The only book for the spirits!
Have fun.
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Elker Linniker
5.0 out of 5 stars Bom
Reviewed in Brazil on December 30, 2019
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Um bom livro para quem quer ter uma boa noção o que foi a inquisição.
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Antonio Piazza
5.0 out of 5 stars I like the pics
Reviewed in Canada on October 2, 2019
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I like the pics
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Piroska Cavenett
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a must have if you are looking ...
Reviewed in Australia on April 6, 2018
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This book is a must have if you are looking into demonology. It is one of the all time occult greats.
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Elia Pavan
5.0 out of 5 stars Compendium Maleficarum di F.M.Guazzo, in inglese.
Reviewed in Italy on October 15, 2016
Verified Purchase
Eccellente fonte d'informazione che è necessaria e sufficiente (se abbinata e sorretta dal Malleus Maleficarum di H.Kramer e J.Sprenger) ad avere un' idea chiara e verosimile della visione del Malefico in quegli anni.
One person found this helpful
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