Cursed Britain: A History of Witchcraft and Black Magic in Modern Times

Cursed Britain examines how witchcraft, curses and black magic persisted in Britain after the decline of formal witch trials. Thomas Waters follows beliefs and accusations from the 19th century into the 20th century and the present day, considering the people said to be cursed or bewitched as well as those who claimed to practise or combat magic.

The history includes Victorian superstition, the late-19th-century ‘unwitchers’ who treated alleged cases of black magic, and the international influences shaping modern occult practice. Waters also traces how writings about Satanism helped circulate older ideas of diabolical magic in 20th-century Britain, presenting these episodes as social and cultural history rather than proof of supernatural power.