"A Life of Gerald Gardner Volume 2" by Philip Heselton offers an in-depth biography of Gerald Gardner, the pivotal figure in the revival of witchcraft in 20th-century England. It explores his unconventional upbringing, travels, and initiation into a witch coven, detailing his efforts to ensure the survival and prominence of Wicca.
A personal biographical account of the life of Doreen Valiente, described by Professor Ronald Hutton as "the greatest single female figure in the modern British history of witchcraft". Author Philip Heselton draws on first hand testimony and Doreen's own personal papers to reveal previously unknown details of her life with fascinating and sometimes startling insights. Adding to the still-emerging story of how an underground cult, described by some as Britain's only living indigenous religion, became a worldwide spiritual movement in the course of a few decades. While Gerald Brosseau Gardner is credited with breathing life into modern witchcraft, it was his High Priestess Doreen Valiente who made it truly accessible to the wider world.
This book explores the story of Gerald Gardner, who discovered a witch coven in the New Forest in the late 1930s, revealing new insights into the origins of modern witchcraft. It highlights key figures, including his High Priestess Edith Woodford-Grimes, and Gardner's connections with notable occultists, while tracing the establishment of the first Museum of Magic and Witchcraft.
In 1954 a book was published which claimed that witches were not just some historical oddity but that the author, retired civil servant, Gerald Gardner, had been initiated into a witch coven in the New Forest, Hampshire, England in 1939. Many dismissed his claims, but Philip Heselton, who has been investigating the story for over 20 years, is convinced that what Gardner wrote about the witch coven was essentially true. He has found that the New Forest coven was started by a group of esoteric students in the early part of the 20th century who believed in reincarnation and that they had been witches in a previous lifetime. Philip Heselton has uncovered the likely membership of the coven and has brought them to life as never before.
The biography delves into the life of Gerald Brosseau Gardner, the pivotal figure behind the mid-20th century revival of witchcraft in England. It offers an intimate portrayal of his journey, exploring his influences and contributions to the Wiccan movement. Divided into two volumes, the first focuses on his early experiences within the witch cult, while the second chronicles the evolution from these practices to the establishment of Wicca. This comprehensive account highlights Gardner's significant impact on modern paganism.