The History of Witchcraft and Demonology

Augustus Montague Summers was an extraordinarily eccentric English author, independent scholar, and clergyman who has been characterized as a highly seminal twentieth-century purveyor of pop-culture occultism. Originally prepared for a career in the Church of England and ordained as an Anglican deacon, Summers later converted to Roman Catholicism and styled himself as a Catholic priest, though his actual ordination to the priesthood remains highly doubtful. Alongside his recognized, highly meticulous academic studies on 17th-century Restoration drama—which earned him election to the Royal Society of Literature—he was famously known for his absolute, unyielding belief in the literal reality of the supernatural. Dressed in anachronistic clerical robes and carrying a cane with a carved skull handle, Summers dedicated the latter half of his life to producing deeply learned yet controversial texts on witches, vampires, and werewolves from a true believer's perspective, cementing his legacy as one of the most enigmatic figures in modern occult literature.

First published in 1926 as a landmark installment in Kegan Paul’s "History of Civilization" series, this comprehensive study stands as a masterpiece of dark and controversial erudition. Rather than presenting a detached, skeptical critique of the early modern witch trials, Summers utilizes an expansive survey of inquisitorial records, court trial documents, and classic demonological treatises to passionately argue that witchcraft was a literal, organized, and malevolent diabolic cult intertwined with criminal heresy. Written in a richly allusive, antiquarian style, the book rejects rationalist and materialist dismissals, detailing everything from demonic pacts and the mechanics of the Sabbat to diabolic possession and historical witch panics. Complete with a historic frontispiece, seven full-page plates, and an exhaustive bibliography, this scarce true first printing—bound in the publisher's dark full cloth with elegant gilt lettering—remains a highly prized and uniquely atmospheric cornerstone for collectors of esoterica.

Navy Blue binding with gilt design to upper board that looks like a wax seal. Gilt lettering to spine. Iconic frontispiece patedown. Illustrations throughout. Very crisp binding and very fine condition overall. Rare to find in such sharp condition.