Book Description
Edgar Allan Poe called it "a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore." This classic work of Renaissance esoteric-by German magician and alchemist HEINRICH CORNELIUS AGRIPPA (1486-1535), one of the important figures in the occult history and philosophy of Europe-is vital reading for anyone fascinated by the Jewish Kabbalah, Christian mysteries, and other arcane traditions.This replica of an 1897 edition, featuring all the original charts and illustrations, reveals Agrippa's understanding of the mysteries of magic, the elements, the heavens, the natural and occult virtues of all things, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

What Magic is really all about!
From a true scholar of the middle ages, revered by many in alchemy, his famous "De Occulta Philosophia" is depicted in this book.Agrippa combines magic, astrology, Qabbalah, theurgy, medicine, and the occult properties of plants. rocks, and metals to name a few.It is not hard to see, after reading this book, why Agrippa's work was such an important factor in the spread of medieval occult sciences.Absolutely Fascinating to read!

Don't waste your money!
1. Title is deceptive, it is only the FIRST book, not three.
2. It is cheaply reproduced.
3. Recommend LLewellyn's

you'll LOVE this!
It was a GREAT! book. very informative. I learned unfathomable amounts about my religion's roots, lore, and more experienced magick. It was sooooo helpful in my studies. I hope you get a chance to read it.

Waste of Money: Get the Llewellyn Complete
Don't waste $25 on a partial edition --- spend $30 for Llewellyn's complete "Three Books of Occult Philosophy," which is also a much better edition, with good annotations.This edition, like just about everything from Kessinger, is essentially a xerox copy bound in thin cardstock. Agrippa's book is the great masterpiece of its kind from the early 16th century; modern practitioners as well as intellectual historians may find it somewhat impenetrable. As an historical resource and compendium of magical material, the work is unparalleled.I suspect that many modern practitioners will find it annoying that Agrippa gives essentially no practical examples. For the linguistically adept, there is an excellent Latin critical edition from E.J. Brill, edited by V. Perrone Compagni.If you want to understand the book from a non-practical perspective, my _The Language of Demons and Angels_ is now out.

This is only the First Book of Occult Philosophy - NOT ALL 3
The title of this particular offering is somewhat misleading - however, in the publisher notes above it is clearly stated that this is ONLY Agrippa's First Book on Occult Philosophy, which covers Natural Magic.You will NOT find his Second book concerning Celestial Magic, nor his Third book concerning Ceremonial Magic within this volume.You can however order his Fourth book, which is a simplified "rude and unfashioned" How To reference to his third book - if you can find it.In the mean time, you might do better ordering Francis Barrett's - The Magus, which is basically a condensed version of Agrippa's work. ... Read more

Book Description
Agrippa's penetrating study of `Occult Philosophy' is widelyacknowledgedas a significant contribution to the Renaissancephilosophical discussionconcerning the powers of magic and itsrelationship with religion. In adiscriminating revival Agrippapursued the `natural' magic of Ficino and Pico,while relating it toReuchlin's synthesis of magic and religion. Agrippabroadens the ideashe found in his sources to forge a much more comprehensiveconceptionof the occult.The critical edition of De occulta philosophiaclarifies a number ofcontroversies about the interpretation of thismagical work. More generally,this Renaissance `magus' proves to bedriven by a deep scholarly curiosity,which seeks to come to gripswith the intellectual and religious problems ofhis time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Get your library to buy this now
If you don't know who Agrippa was, you shouldn't be reading this review, unless you're a librarian who's been asked to buy the volume.Do an author search for "Agrippa occult" and start there.

Now, assuming that you know who Agrippa (1486-1535) was, and roughly what his Occult Philosophy was, let's talk about this volume.

This is a scholarly critical edition.The copious annotations do not so much explain the text as tell you what Agrippa is quoting or referring to, so you can look up more texts.The introduction is functional, but not terribly helpful to the nonspecialist.On the other hand, when I wrote my book on Agrippa, this thing was a constant and trusty companion; boy am I ever glad I shelled out for this!

Agrippa's book itself is obscure and difficult, but at the same time it is the seminal attempt to develop a philosophical framework for magic as a practice.If you just want to read the book, read it in English (buy the Llewellyn edition) unless your Latin is stunningly good.So if you don't already know the book well, you shouldn't be spending money on this.

The editing is meticulous, including constant explications of Agrippa's many references and sources.There is a wonderful index and bibliography, making the volume exceptionally useful -- Agrippa himself is deliberately confusing and at times seems disorganized.On top of everything else, the editor has included angle braces and further notes so that we get a complete edition of the Juvenile Draft (1510) woven into the final edition (1531/33).I can't say enough good things about the edition.

Every library with a serious early modern collection should have this.Brill's books are extremely expensive, of course, but they are permanent.The paper is acid-free, the binding is very toughly stitched, and so forth.If you shell out for this text, you will still have it a long time from now.If you are not in control of a library's budget, though, you'd better try to get your librarian to order this.

In short, this is a volume for a library, a specialist, or a wealthy Latinist.If you are wealthy enough to afford this and just want a cool edition, bear in mind that you can sometimes find Agrippa's _Opera_ in early 17th C editions for about what this volume costs --- no critical material, of course, but pretty.If you have good reason to want a critical edition, though, this one is not likely to be superseded.

Finally a scholarly edition of this classic.
This book should be at the top of the reading list for anyone interested in Western occultism or magic.

The original Latin text of Agrippa's classic is presented along with critical apparatus clearly showing variant readings in the editions.Includes a great introduction (in English) with a detailed analysis of Agrippa's sources and as well as an insightful and in-depth analysis of Agrippa's extensive 1533 expansion and revision of the text.Complete with helpful bibliographies and indices.

The only disappointment I had was the fact that this edition does not include Agrippa's lengthy recantation, which was included in the 1533 edition.

This is one of the most expensive books I've ever bought, but worth the price, especially for those with a command of Renaissance Latin.

Excellent Edition. Much Expected.
Renaissance Scholarship needed such a critical edition of this work. For deep study on the matter. Undoubtedly, the best edition in the market. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Foundation Book of Western Occultism
Any one with even a passing interest in the occult has heard of Agrippa's three books. It has rightfully been called THE sourcebook of western magic (or at least of the Renaissance rediscovery of the Art.). It is recorded that the magus Dr. John Dee always kept a copy open on his desk at Mortlake for ready reference. Even today many of us keep Agrippa's masterpiece out and ready- some for reference, others to merely impress.

The basic, uniting principle of this mammoth volume is the Soul of the World. This is the traditional Greek concept (Agrippa was clearly a Neo-Platonist) of an intermediary world-soul that mediates between the One and the material world. This is the basis of all natural magic. This is what interconnects all of Agrippa's vast system of astrology, numerology, alchemy, Kabala, seals, talismans, lists of correspondences, etc. Everything in the cosmos emanates downward from the highest Source. Moreover, hidden currents and vibrations interconnect the lower with the higher in sympathetic union.

As much as I value this classic book, if I wanted a single volume for practical use and reference I would probably choose _The Magician's Companion_ by Bill Whitcomb.However, I would still keep this book in my master collection with the rest of the great source works.

Contrary to rumor, there was no fourth book written by Agrippa- the one in circulation is a very old forgery. ... Read more

Book Description
A complete work on Natural Magic, White Magic, Black Magic, Divination, Occult Binding, Sorceries, and their power; Unctions, Love Medicines and their Virtues; The Occult virtue of things which are in them only in their life time, and such as remain in them even after their death; The Occult or Magical Virtue of all things, etc. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Impressive and erudite summary of natural magic.
This is an excellent book from a well respected and scholarly alchemist of the middle ages.It must be read from the context of an occult point of view to be truly appreciated and understood.A remarkable work.

An Interesting Occult Book
This is an affordable copy of an occult classic which I am happy to have in my library. Agrippa was an astonishing occultist and I find the information contained both helpful and interesting.

Not the best edition available
In 1898, Willis F. Whitehead published a partial edition of Agrippa's great classic of Western occultism, Of Occult Philosophy or Magic. Whitehead based his edition on John French's English translation (Moule: London, 1651), and his main contribution was to partially modernize French's spelling and punctuation.Unfortunately his edition is disappointing for several reasons.First, he stopped after editing only the first of Agrippa's three books. Secondly, in his attempt to break up some of the enormous sentences, he occasionally lost some of the meaning. Thirdly, Whitehead obsessively mutilated the text by substituting euphemisms for sexual references or deleting them entirely. As an example, in chapter 15 of French's translation we read "take those members, or parts, in which the Venerall [venereal, i.e. sexual] appetite is most vigorous, such as the heart, testicles, matrix [womb], yard [penis], sperme, and menstrues." Whitehead changed this to read "...parts in which the vital vertue is most vigorous, such as the heart, breast, and also like parts."Apparently using Victorian standards, he likewise edits out terms like "dung," "gut," "abortion," and others. Another defect in this edition is that it is actually a reprint of the edition of L.W. DeLaurence, an infamous literary pirate who shamelessly took credit for Whitehead's efforts. In my opinion, much better editions of Agrippa are available, and worth the extra cost. ... Read more