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'The Roebuck in the Thicket An Anthology of the Robert Cochrane Witchcraft Tradition' Evan John Jones & Robert Cochrane by Mike Howard (Editor) © 2001 Capall Bann ISBN 186163 1553 Paperback 171 pages + Bibliography and Further Reading $19.50(U.S.)
Whereas the previously reviewed book (The Robert Cochrane Letters) consisted exclusively of correspondence from Robert Cochrane to various individuals, this book incorporates the public writings of the man who inspired the foundation of the "1734" tradition of Witchcraft, and those who knew him personally.
Since this tradition is most definitely not of the Gardnerian-derived influences, it offers a valuable insight into one of the earliest acknowledgements of non-Gardnerian Craft in the modern world. Cochrane's "public" life as a member of the Craft only ran from 1963 until his early death at the Summer Solstice of 1966, so there wasn't a lot of time for him to promulgate his views. Factor in his secretiveness [and habit of speaking (and writing) in hints and riddles] and you have very little definitive information for those outside his tradition to base their opinions on.
These 171 pages contain an anthology of the works about Cochrane and his tradition and, with the addition of The Robert Cochrane Letters will provide the basis for on-going discussions regarding both.
Chapters Two through Five are the extent of the first-hand, public writings, of Robert Cochrane. The remaining fourteen chapters flesh these out with writings by Evan John Jones, who worked with Cochrane, as well as with other prominent Crafters over the years.
The differences between Cochrane's system, and the more commonly accepted systems today become obvious in these essays, and they are explained quite satisfactorily by Mr. Jones.
There were a number of editing errors in this book but, quite frankly, I have come to expect that from many authors and publishers I have been reading over that past several years. Fortunately, most of these errors are extremely minor and appear to be simply the result of not using a spell-checker program at some point in the production of the book.
Mr. Howard has made a valuable contribution to the history of modern Witchcraft with the publication of this book. There is abundant need to gather together the thoughts and writings which have influenced the development of the public Craft before they disappear forever.
Agree with the ideas of Robert Cochrane and his associates or not, they are an important part of our recent history. They provoke thought and discussion, and of that there is never enough.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in non-Gardnerian-style Witchcraft. It offers insight and ideas you won't find anywhere else, but, even if you disagree with what is here, you will find stimulation from reading it, and that is a good thing.
On a side note, as an American reader and reviewer, I really appreciate the development of publishers in the United Kingdom who are striving to get their products into the global marketplace. For far too long the American point of view was the only one available. Although it is still dominant, in many fields, the appearance of publishers such as Capall Bann and Green Magic, among others, offers refreshing insights and differing opinions.
Reviewer: Mike Gleason
If you would like to join in on a discussion about this book, please go to the forum here: The Roebuck in the Thicket