The Virago Book Of Witches

Beware the women who are called witches, or those who claim the name for themselves...

Banshees - a howling night-witch and harbinger of death; She-devils - Lilith and her daughters; or Bitches - Hecate, whose chariot is drawn by dogs.

Alluring women, enchantresses, seekers of revenge, wise old women and badly-behaved girls. As Shahrukh Husain says: ' witches... womanhood in all its complexity'

Over fifty stories of crones and nixies, shape shifters and beauties are here, including the loving fox witch of Japan; Italy's Witch-Bea-Witch; Scotland's Goodwife of Laggan; Biddy Earl and the terrifying Kali and Baba Yaga who comes in many forms to haunt, entice, possess, transform and challenge.

From every corner of the globe, with tom-foolery, fun, strife and victory, these folklore and legends celebrate women who step out of line.

“Shahrukh Husain gives us a delightful array of witches of all kinds from across the globe - from the kindly to the cruel, from the wise to the wicked. A collection of stories that won't fail to entertain.”

-- Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women

Shahrukh Husain writes fiction, non-fiction and scripts for children and adults. She is passionate about world mythology and folklore which provides a link between her two jobs: writing and psychoanalysis and claims to have been in the thrall of witches since childhood. She was born in Karachi, Pakistan and lives in London.

Beware the women who are called witches, or those who claim the name for themselves...Banshees - a howling night-witch and harbinger of death; She-devils - Lilith and her daughters; or Bitches - Hecate, whose chariot is drawn by dogs.Alluring women, enchantresses, seekers of revenge, wise old women and badly-behaved girls. As Shahrukh Husain says: ' witches... womanhood in all its complexity'Over fifty stories of crones and nixies, shape shifters and beauties are here, including the loving fox witch of Japan; Italy's Witch-Bea-Witch; Scotland's Goodwife of Laggan; Biddy Earl and the terrifying Kali and Baba Yaga who comes in many forms to haunt, entice, possess, transform and challenge.From every corner of the globe, with tom-foolery, fun, strife and victory, these folklore and legends celebrate women who step out of line.

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