The Book of Secrets of Albertus Magnus: Of the Virtues of Herbs, Stones and Certain Beasts

One of the most widely known works in a literature which gained tremendous popularity during the Middle Ages, The Book of Secrets--generally attributed to the thirteenth-century philosopher Albertus Magnus--explores the mysterious properties, real or imagined, of beasts, herbs, stones, and the human body. Presenting an other world of information on how to cast spells and mix potions, this fascinating volume speaks to our age as we experience a renaissance of interest in the occult.
Compiled in Latin near the end of the thirteenth century and translated into all major European languages, the book first appeared in English around 1550 and was subsequently reprinted many times over the next ninety years. The various sections, which include herbs, stones, beasts, astrology, and the "marvels of the world," offer wonderful descriptions of, for example, how to gather the Marigold herb in the month of August, wrap it in the leaf of a Laurel or Bay tree, and add a wolf's tooth to it in order to prevent anyone from speaking ill of you; or how to rid your home of mice by "perfuming" it with the hoof of a horse. Appearing at a time of growing knowledge and skepticism, this work served as a reminder that magic and the improbable still greatly interested much of the literate public. Even today, practitioners and students of the occult, as well as general readers, will delight in the marvelous treasures hidden in The Book of Secrets.