Ernesto de Martino was was an Italian anthropologist, philosopher and historian of religions. In this books he discusses how prejudice barricades entry into the world of magic. He reveals societies where magic is a way of life where sorcerer, shaman, diviner, fire walker are the priests of a religion powerful enough to divert nature from its expected course. Illustrated with arcane drawings and rare photographs the World of Magic ranges from spells to metaphysics.

This is a paperback edition published by Pyramid in 1972. There is a small stamp on the top edge of the book, the signature of a previous owner on the inside cover, and a small tear on page 39 that does not effect the text. Normal shelf wear, all other pages are clean and tight.