Richard Cavendish Livres

Legends are stories that spring from the collective consciousness of a people--no one writer ever invented the adventures of Robin Hood, the fanciful tales of the Buddha's childhood, or the exploits of the Aboriginal outlaw Yagan. Although legends have their roots in undefined history, and are shaped by constant telling and retelling, they become legends only after the facts have been transformed by the popular imagination, when real people become magical beasts, demons, or men with supernatural powers.Here the most important, most popular, and most curious legends from each of the five continents, and from sophisticated and primitive cultures alike, have been chosen by thirty-four experts. These writers relate the cultural context of each legend. The authors also describe the effects these stories had on the people who first heard them, and they trace, where appropriate, the legends' distant origins in recorded events and characters. A comparative survey charts the recurring themes and motifs, providing a fascinating view of how the same legend, with minor variations, appears in many different parts of the world.

100 of the world's most spectacular monuments are described in this book. Enigmatic megaliths, such as Stonehenge in England and the Easter Island statues in the Pacific, invite conjecture but have not yielded up their age-old secrets.

A compendium of information on the Tarot including its origin, myths and facts about the Tarot. There are clear instructions on how to lay out and read the cards and their significance in magic, meditation and divination.

An in-depth study of mythology from the ancient world to the present day.

"Kings & Queens is packed with stories and is brimming with wonderful images. More than 500 photographs, paintings, illustrations and archive objects make this not only an essential reference works, but also a beautiful book that will bring pleasure as well as providing information."--BOOK JACKET.

Cavendish, Richard. Prehistoric England. London, Guild Puiblishing, 1983. 20 cm x 27.5 cm. 152 pages. Original Hardcover with original dustjacket. Excellent condition with only very minor signs of external wear. Includes the following Introduction - England Before the Romans, The West Country, The South, London and the South-East, The Heart of England, Thames and Chilterns, The Eastern Counties, The North Midlands, Yorkshire and the North-East, and the North-West. Illustrated throughout both in colour and in black and white.

A comprehensive history of magic and witchcraft has been lacking until now. Richard Cavendish's work fills this gap, exploring magic in the West from prehistoric times to the present. He does not ask readers to believe in magic but to examine its impact on human behavior. Throughout history, magic has been intertwined with religion, art, medicine, folklore, superstition, astrology, and the everyday lives of countless individuals. The narrative encompasses a wide range of topics, including Pythagoras, Orpheus, the Hermetica, Neoplatonism, amulets, sacrifices, dream interpretation, herbal magic, astrology, curses, folk customs, Christian and Jewish magical traditions, notable figures like Joan of Arc, Gilles de Rais, Nostradamus, Paracelsus, and Faust, as well as events like the witch trials and the Black Mass. It also touches on Yoga, Tantrism, and influential personalities such as Madame Blavatsky, W. B. Yeats, and C. G. Jung. Cavendish presents this intricate material with clarity and balance, offering a lively and insightful analysis that provides a clear and accurate account of a complex and captivating subject.

Every feature and structure in this book is a cause of wonder. Even in a time of mass and instantaneous communication, when images of the globe's most remote reaches can be transmitted to every sitting room, the facts of human ingenuity and skills, and the extremes of the natural world, can still astonish.

Describes mysterious and unexplained events around the world, including ghosts, apparitions, UFOs, zombies, and witches

Explores the most important historical sites ranging from Stonehenge to the Great Wall of China, from Sterkfontein Caves - the 'cradle of humanity' in South Africa to Checkpoint Charlie, Germany. This book features places where Kings and Queens were crowned, wars were won and lost, and sites that saw advancements in structural engineering.