The Magical Adventures of Mary Parish: The Occult World of Seventeenth-Century London (Early Modern Studies)

Mary Parish wasn t your ordinary seventeenth-century woman. She was a "cunning woman," who spent her time in the realm of magic, interacting with fairies, hunting for buried treasures, and communicating with the spirit world, along with her partner, the young aristocrat Goodwin Wharton. Drawing largely from Goodwin s personal journals, Frances Timbers reconstructs Mary s life in this microhistory and explores themes of class, gender, and relationships in seventeenth-century England. Mary s story provides insight into magical beliefs and practices of early modern history and sheds light on how class and gender affected everyday life. Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Illustrations 10 Acknowledgments 12 Prologue: April 18, 1703 16 Chapter 1: Down the Rabbit Hole 18 Chapter 2: A Cunning Woman 25 Chapter 3: The Queen of the Fairies 47 Chapter 4: Finding a Familiar 68 Chapter 5: Matters of Marriage 84 Chapter 6: Sex and Succession 104 Chapter 7: The Pleasures of Venus andf the Pains of Eve 113 Chapter 8: The Traumas of Treasure Hunting 131 Chapter 9: Heavenly Hosts 149 Chapter 10: Mary's Crucible 161 Chapter 11: Plots and Piety 180 Epilogue: April 1703 192 17th century map of London 197 Appendix: A Timeline of Mary's Life 200 Bibliography 204 Index 218 About the Author 224 Back Cover 225 Down The Rabbit Hole -- A Cunning Woman -- Fairies And Fantasies -- A Curious George -- Matters Of Marriage -- Sex And Succession -- The Pleasures Of Venus And The Pains Of Eve -- The Trauma Of Treasure Hunting -- Heavenly Hosts -- Mary's Crucible -- Politics. By Frances Timbers. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 191-204) And Index.