decline-of-english-magic
The historical process by which the power and practice of magic in England diminished, affecting the nature and authorship of magical texts.
1 chapter across 1 book
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (2004)Susanna Clarke
This chapter discusses the contentious debate among magicians regarding what qualifies as a legitimate book of magic, emphasizing that true books of magic should be authored by practicing magicians rather than theorists or historians. It highlights the historical decline of English magic, noting that the most renowned magicians of the Golden Age left little written work, while the subsequent Silver Age magicians were more scholarly and less effective practitioners. The chapter thus explores the tension between magical practice and scholarship during the waning periods of English magic.