The Bathhouse at Midnight: An Historical Survey of Magic and Divination in Russia (Magic in History)

I find this book to be extremely interesting. The author spent years studying the topic and Russian culture in general. He addresses a huge amount of data from his studies of Russian magic and divination.What I find most interesting about the book is that he examines some of the accepted ideas from scholarship about Russian culture and asks if they are valid. He argues, for example, that "dvoeverie" is not a uniquely Russian phenomenon, but that it is typical of many cultures that accepted Christianity. Too often, in my opinion, scholarship about Russia created concepts about Russian culture without addressing the same or similar phenomena in other cultures. This parochialism is going away in recent years. Whether the author intended it or not, this book contributes to the weakening of that parochialism.At least that's my opinion.

The publisher decided to save money by reducing what should have been a 700 page book to 500 pages by using a tiny font. Then to save on the cost of ink they decided to use a very fine typeface which makes it even more difficult to read. Every Russian word is printed in Italics making interpreting unfamiliar names almost impossible. In the library where I worked I normally used 11 characters per inch on call number spine labels not anything nearly as tiny as 19 characters per inch. I also used a highly visible typeface like Colibri or Times Roman. When you order this book you will not receive an original 1999 copy printed in the UK. Instead you will receive a Print on Demand copy which on the very last page stated that it was printed in Las Vegas on March 8 2022. The cost of this book was just significantly increased. It isn’t worth the cost unless you feel comfortable reading it with a high quality Bausch & Lomb magnifying glass of something better.

If you're looking for information on Russian witchcraft, this is THE book. Its full of awesome information & there are so many citations to do further research. Its absolutely worth the price.

This is THE book of Slavic magic.I just used this book as the main source for my thesis on magic and folk custom in Russia. Out of all the books I researched this one has, by far, the most information in a very well laid out format. Most of Ryan's sources are primary texts and are well recorded if you ever want to do further study.It's also a great source for anyone who just wants to learn more about the magical side of Slavic culture. And I found it very easy to read.

This book is a great survey. The sources used are brilliant. And it provides a great grasp on the subject, while being very clear what it will and will not cover.I definitely suggest this if you're interested in Russian history, mythology, or magic studies.

This is a fantastic book full of details on the history of Russian Orthodox religion, belief in magic and superstitions! Amazing reference source!! So glad I got it!

This is the definitive source for Russian magic and folk beliefs. It will be a great addition to any occult library. It's not the type of book one would sit down and read cover to cover, but you will find yourself consulting it or just flipping through it and reading whatever catches your eye. The writing style itself is approachable and easy to follow and the table of contents is very helpful. The book is organized well, so you shouldn't have to dig through it trying to track down whatever you are looking up; it all should be in one place.The subject matter is, of course, fascinating. It covers magic across all Russian and even surrounding countries (Belorussia, Ukraine, etc.) make frequent appearances. If you have an interest in Russian pagan beliefs, this is the book for you.

Would you eat potatoes if you believed that they grow out of the anus and genitals of a dead oriental magician? Do you want to know what anyone is thinking? There is a way by using peas and snakes. "If a madman is touched by a diamond he will be cured of his malady" (good to cure your mad relatives, although perhaps out or reach for much of the common folk). Do you laugh at it? Russian have believed that way for centuries, and similar beliefs have been shared (do not use the past tense!) by the other European -and American- people too.All this and more is compiled in a very orderly way by the author, in a masterful work that can be savoured by the professional historian and educated layperson alike. Besides, the book is not a difficult reading (content: 5 starts; pleasure of reading: 4 to 3).(...)

A startling and long overdue tome on Russian Magic. At first you could be forgiven for thinking the work is another scholarly treatise by a modern day Budge. However it soon transpires that the author has explored every conceivable facet of Rusian magic including Binary Divination and creaks in walls to more advanced oracular systems. I came across the author through the Panizzi lectures and invested in the book only to be surprised that I had purchased an encyclopedia, almanac and definitive text all in one. If you are interested in practical magic the work will help you with perspectives you might not have yet considered. The reason for the interest is that after many years of autocratic rule: monarchical and Communist Russians never gave up on their folk wisdom, this comes through in the work.