Magic

Available for over a year

Matthew Sweet delves into the deep history of magic, its evolution into religion and science and its continuing relevance in the 21st century. Joining his coven are novelist and historian Kate Laity, Professor of European Archaeology at Oxford University Chris Gosden, Jessica Gossling who's one of the leaders of the Decadence Research Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London and John Tresch, Professor of the History of Science and Folk Practice at the Warburg Institute. The History of Magic - From Alchemy to Witchcraft, from the Ice Age to the Present by Chris Gosden is out now. Chastity Flame by K.A. Laity is available now. You can find other conversations in our archive featuring French novelist Marie Dariussecq in a programme called Enchantment, Witches and Woodlands https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000qkl Historians Marina Warner and Susannah Lipscomb look at Witchfinding https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06kckxk Novelists Zoe Gilbert, Madeline Miller and Kirsty Logan compare notes on Charms https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b1q0xc Producer: Torquil MacLeod