The New Pagans by Frederick Adams
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have returned. There is still a fair bit of stuff in boxes, and the internet connection is cobbled together with cables running the length of the house, but it is time for me to return to my task of exploring—and exposing—the endless variety of truly-awesome witchy art.
And I so I present you this gem: Hans Holzer, The New Pagans (New York: Doubleday, 1972); the artwork is by Frederick Adams.
This is one of the many books that I packed (and unpacked) and—while doing so—thought: “Now that has got to go on my blog!” It has everything going for it: the artwork, the date (1972. What a year), and the author. And it is about wicca and witches. (The first sixty pages are “The Heirs of Wicca”.)
Hans Holzer was a legend. Wikipedia claims that he “wrote well over 100 books on supernatural and occult subjects”. Of these there are five every self-respecting witch should have The Truth about Witchcraft (New York: Doubleday, 1969); The New Pagans (New York: Doubleday, 1972); The Witchcraft Report (New York: Ace, 1973); Confessions of a Witch, as Told By Heather (London: Star Book, 1976) and Witches (New York: Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, 2002).
In terms of the best cover-art, it would be a near thing choosing between Confessions of a Witch and The New Pagans. You will get to see both, but I am saving Confessions of a Witch for another day.
9 September 2010 at 12:59 PM
I’ve owned this book for years, and admired its cover art, but not yet read it. How well does it hold up today?
9 September 2010 at 2:20 PM
I’ve got “Heather; confessions of a witch” on my bookcase. It’s hilarious. Really.
9 September 2010 at 9:06 PM
Psyche: it is very journalistic. It has sentences that start: “Terry, a twenty-six-year-old telephone company employee, had risen from his chair …” But I love it for that reason. It is like reading a pile of 1970s newspapers. Which is more-or-less what it is. I think Holzer just cobbled together a series of magazine feature articles he had written, put a title on it, and pushed out another book. But he was very interested in witchcraft and the occult, interviewed lots of interesting people, big names and nobodies, so his book really capture the excitement of the times. Of course he hams things up. It is all a bit breathless. And as Joy says, “Heather; Confessions of a Witch” is very sensationalist, very amusing. Which makes it fun.
RW
10 September 2010 at 6:48 AM
Beautiful. Like a wild forgotten dream…I want one. Just began Adler’s; Drawing Down the Moon-finally. I’m so far behind in my reading. Curious tho-does the old Magickal Childe have a new name somewhere? Won’t work without Slater prob’ly, huh? Nice to see you back.
10 September 2010 at 10:55 AM
finally!
11 September 2010 at 10:45 AM
Good to see you back. Looking forward to more posts!
13 September 2010 at 5:38 AM
I lived in LA in the early 80s, when I was 19, and befriended a couple of Gnostic magicians, Nelson & Anne White, who took me under their wing, so to speak, and gave me some original artwork by Fred Adams. I regret that I have since lost it, but I believe you would very much have appreciated it.
13 September 2010 at 3:11 PM
Welcome back! I saw a sexy witch noise maker on ebay the other day and I thought of your blog right away. The bidding was almost over or I was going to send you the link so you could have a look. Anyway, thanks for sharing the book – I really like the cover and look forward to seeing the next!