A Supernatural War

Owen Davies is Professor of Social History at the University of Hertfordshire author of a number of books on witchcraft and magic, including the Oxford Illustrated History that I reviewed last year. Subtitled 'magic, divination and faith during the First World War', this gives a fascinating into supernatural beliefs and practices prevalent during the period. Ironically, Max Weber was formulating his ideas on Protestant disenchantment just at the same period as this new expression of enchantment appeared. The author reminds us of the relatively recent development of psychology, anthropology and folklore as well as the founding of the Society of Psychical Research in 1882. The chapters cover with detailed illustrations prophecies, visions, spirits and psychics, fortune-telling, battlefield luck in relation to talismans and other forms of protection - and more generally how people sought reassurance in such a dangerous period where, in the trenches, death could supervene any day.

Although the book highlights such beliefs and practices during the war, it is clear that there is a cultural continuity both before and after. The author concludes that 'with respect to this continuum of supernatural beliefs and practices, the First World War was influential in the way it cemented the commercialisation of talismans and amulets, and helped incorporate mechanisation into the realm of the magical, rendered mundane the notion of life after death, and psychologist the psychic realm.' In individual cases, readers can ask themselves about cause and effect, fate and luck, raising larger issues about life and death, which are sensitively addressed by the author using his extensive background knowledge.