Robin Melrose is a retired senior lecturer in English and linguistics at the University of Portsmouth in England and lives in the UK.
Melrose presents a concise historical survey of magic practices in Britain. Using archaeological and written sources, Melrose explores how magic was practiced from Britain's Iron Age through the Reformation.... The work is entertaining, insightful, and well researched, offering an excellent overview of the development and practice of magic throughout Britain's history.... recommended --Choice The author allows the reader to see how the relationship between magic and the church changed over time...a collection of fascinating stories about people, places, and practices --Booklist Well-researched presentation of each category of magical practice connected to its geographical and archeological roots. For every category discussed in Melrose's work, he provides an extensive exploration of its people and place names, demonstrating an encyclopedic knowledge of British geography and early British history --SMART: Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Teaching