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The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage
Editorial Summary
The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage is a classic grimoire, traditionally attributed to a legendary figure known as Abraham of Worms, containing extensive lists of named demons and spirits alongside a system of guardian-angel invocation, presented here in S. L. MacGregor Mathers' influential English translation.
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Why This Book Is in the Directory
Mathers' translation of this classic grimoire, with its named demons/spirits and guardian-angel invocation system, is a direct-scope entry anchored to his own verified 1900 second edition.
Historical Context
Mathers first published his English translation in 1898, with a second edition following in 1900, at a time when he was a co-founder of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. His rendering introduced this grimoire to English-speaking occultists and became a foundational text of the modern Western ceremonial-magic revival.
What the Author Presents
The text presents itself as a first-person magical instruction manual, purportedly transmitted from a medieval sage to his son, detailing preparatory rituals for contacting one's guardian angel before commanding a hierarchy of named demons and spirits. Modern scholarship regards its claimed medieval origin and authorship with considerable skepticism.
Intended Reader
Best suited for readers interested in the history of Western ceremonial magic, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and the textual traditions surrounding named demons and guardian-angel invocation. Less suited for readers seeking a critical, modern scholarly edition of the underlying medieval material.
Strengths and Limitations
Its significance lies as much in its influence on twentieth-century ceremonial magic through Mathers' translation as in the disputed medieval text it claims to render.
Edition Disclosure
This directory entry is anchored to Mathers' second edition (London: J. M. Watkins, 1900; first edition 1898). The Amazon purchase link leads to a 2016 paperback reprint (Jazzybee Verlag, 206 pages) that an independent bookseller record confirms explicitly credits Mathers as translator — not an original 1900 physical copy, and not independently compared page-for-page against the 1900 printing specifically.
Purchase
View a purchasable edition on AmazonBook Facts
| Author | S. L. MacGregor Mathers |
|---|---|
| Qualifying year | 1900 |
| Manifestation type | Second edition of translation |
| Language | English |
| Modern Amazon availability | Verified — owner-confirmed |
| ASIN | 3849681289 |