Witchfather: : A Life of Gerald Gardner, Volume 1--Into the Witch Cult

Philip Heselton is an authjor that cuts to the chase and get's down to the core of everything. He has written some fascinating books on Wicca and more importantly it's sources. Now he has written a thorough biography and has done his research into related sources. His biography relies a lot or has taken a major beginning from Bracelin's earlier work and Gerald Gardner's writings. He has taken the various claims and investigated their veracity. Not an easy thing to do.Gerald Gardner was born in Bundensellands just North of Liverpool to William and Lois Gardner. The family had patriarch bought several houses in that new area of Bundenselands also known as the "Glen" The patriarchs name was Joseph. The family made their money making blockstops out of wood in the far east. Later on they made their money in the rubber production business. The Gardners were also involved in the Customs department. As a youngster Gardener was taken with asthma and could not thrive in those English winters. His nanny nicknamed "Com" took all around the mediterranean, and Africa. He has no formal education and thus taught himself to read and write. Com was a real party animal who sported lots of lovers and drank massive amounts of alcohol.When he was around 18 years of age he interned on a plantation. From the tea plantation he himself went into the lumber and rubber business. While in Malaysia and Borneo Gerald befriended the natives and learned many things about their culture, religion and magic. He bacame an expert an the Malaysian weapon called the Keris. He was an amateur archaeologist who made some importatn finds about Malaysia. Later on he himself would work for British customs and was in charge of enforcing British opium laws. Gerald himself did take bribes.Towards the end of his career he met Donna and got married. He took leave and used stored up vacation time to retire early. He later moved to New Forest and was involved in a nudist club. He would later meet the witches throught the Rosicrucian Theater in the town of Christchurch. Dafo or eEith Grimes initatiated him. THe book talks about his begining in the Witch cult and about the relations that he formed.One must remember that Gerald was a trickster who was very capable of stretching the truth and telling tall tales. Sometimes what he said could not be verified. He even bought a doctorate from an Americans Unioversity that had a miserable reputation. yet he also shed light on Malaysia, archaeolgy and witchcraft. Great book if you wanna be come more familiar with the "Father of Modern Witchcraft"

I thoroughly enjoyed "Witchfather", the (part 1) biography of Gerald Gardner. Once you get past the background of Gerald's heraldry and lengthy description of his natal town, you get to encounter Gerald. First, you meet Gerald the boy who had a colorful and adventureous upbringing outside of England. Due to his asthma (the "psychic's disease"), he must spend most of the year away from his cold homeland, living much like a remittance man, on warmer islands under the care of his not-very-proper nanny. You'll also encounter Gerlad the young man who explores and works in far off tropical Asian islands, who becomes a noted amateur anthropologist.Gerald finally comes back to England where he seeks out open-minded and interesting people like himself. He marries an outsider nurse, discovers the benefits of nudism, talks to spiritualists, and joins a playhouse that celebrates Pagan divinities. Then at last, he meets the witches who take him into their confidence and share their rites with him.What I found particularly helpful was how the author demonstrates the centrality of Edith Grimes ("Dafo") in Gerald's encountering and embracing of Wicca. This was missing from earlier works that were written about the origins of Wicca when Dafo's identity was still unclear.I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about this man who "unveiled" and founded England's only indigenous world religion. It is a must-read story that is well-told by Heselton. I am looking forward to reading part two.

This is one of the most annoyingly formatted e-books I've ever read--and I pushed onward and read both volumes nonetheless. Heselton has written a biography of the founder/reviver of modern witchcraft that will not be surpassed for some time. He presents a well-rounded picture of the man from childhood through his working life, his post-retirement involvement with the Craft, his published books, and his death. Gardner is a fascinating figure, and anyone with an interest in contemporary witchcraft or paganism in general should read this biography.

Great books, enlightening and informative....I highly recommend the set to anyone interested in the history of contemporary Paganism and Witchcraft.

Excellent accurate history of Gerald Gardner and beginnings of Wicca...Takes you from his early life until his passing to Summerland

I am not a Gardner scholar and I have quite enjoyed Mr. Heselton's other works, but, both Vols 1 and 2 of this book, seem like nothing more than rehashes of the other two! And they are SO poorly formatted. Your money might be better spend on Frederic Lamond's work or that of Gardner's various High Priestesses.

Why is this volume one of a two volume set not available for Kindle? Volume two is. Rating will increase once the Kindle edition is released.

I am still waiting to buy the book through Kindle, and it still impossible to aquire, with the information that the proper iten is unavailable...

Yet again Mr Heselton has released another interesting volume in the life of Gardner - this time a two book set.The amount of research that must have gone into both volumes is colossal - resulting in the reader reaping lots of information about the life of Gerald Gardner.Although I personally don't follow the path of Wicca as I'm trained in traditional witchcraft, reading about the life of Gardner and his early and later life is a fascinating insight into the guardian of Wicca and how it evolved from its early days in society.I would have no hesitation in recommending both volumes in this set - a fascinating, enjoyable and informative read.

A unique insight into the life and knowledge of the Father of modern day Wicca. As Professor Hutton has said "the only native religion we have exported to the rest of the world". I look forward to reading Volume 2.

interesting social study of the time - but what an unsavoury man! If Wicca is really based on his concoction of ideas, created to titivate his own inadequacies - then so-called Wiccans are sadly misled.

In fairness the author has undoubtedly spent a great deal of time researching. An abundance of people appear and disappear, all of which are accurately named, although at times the author himself seems unsure of their purpose. Places visited are well documented and on occasion this will lead to an interesting period of G.B.G s life, although most of the time it's simply information.So as a reader interested in the character of what I had believed to be an estimable member of humanity, I'm somewhat disappointed. I wanted to read of the inquiring mind that had experimented with opium based hallucinating drugs, had curbed this weakness with a fascination for nudity, and, as has been more often recorded, had a total belief in Witchcraft.The author however throughout the whole of this narrative appears to suffer with the same reticence that G.B.G had suffered himself. That being that he tended to leave more unanswered questions at the end, then there was at the beginning.

Very good book about this matter