Wiccan Roots: Gerald Gardner and the Modern Witchcraft Revival

Rating:
Summary: a good scholarly examination of Gardner's Wiccan roots
Review: Philip Heselton's book "Wiccan Roots: Gerald Gardner and the Modern Witchcraft Revival" should be recommended along with Ronald Hutton's "The Triumph of the Moon" as a solid, scholarly examination of the roots of modern Wicca.

Heselton doesn't deal in unsupported claims about Wiccan history as far too many other Wiccan writers do. He sticks to the facts, and presents the results of his research in a clear, easy-to-read manner.

Like any good researcher, Heselton raises many new questions that need addressing while clearing up longstanding misunderstandings. The author doesn't pretend to have the definitive answer about whether Gardner really was just passing on an existing tradition or was instead inspired to put together the religion now known as Wicca.

Hesleton provides compelling evidence for the existence of a group of self-described witches who did in fact perform an initiation on Gardner, thus giving him a formal introduction to witchcraft. What remains to be determined, though, is whether what that group of witches practiced was anything like Gardnerian Wicca, and whether they did in fact have any sort of established pagan "tradition" which they passed on to him, rather than just a mishmash of occult and pagan lore.

Heselton has done the Wiccan community a great service. His book should be an excellent starting point, along with Ronald Hutton's "The Triumph of the Moon," into further scholarly research about our pagan past

Rating:
Summary: Essential Reading in the History of Wicca
Review: This book, along with Hutton's _Triumph of the Moon_, is essential reading for anyone interested in an accurate history of Wicca. Heselton provides solid evidence of the people and places behind Gardner's discovery / invention of Wicca, offers his well-measured conjectures, and fills some of the gaps Hutton alludes to in his work. For those of us interested in the history of the Craft, a very, VERY important little book.

Rating:
Summary: Jolly Good!!
Review: Wiccan Roots is an excellent counter to Hutton's book Triumph of the Moon, providing the reader with credible altenative views and explanations (overlooked or ignored by Hutton). In effect, this book corrects some of the many errors found in Triumph of the Moon. A must have for every Witch/Wiccan.