First published in London in 1801, Francis Barrett's The Magus is a compilation grimoire, collecting together material drawn from a wide range of sources. Barrett issued it out of his occult training school in London's Marylebone district, which was running at the turn of the nineteenth century. The book contains selections from:
 
Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy 
The Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy attributed to Agrippa
The Heptameron of Peter of Abano 
 
The book's contents range from natural magic, occult correspondences, alchemy, talismans and planetary magic, ceremonial magic and Kabbalah, as well as potted biographies of famous historical adepts such as Agrippa, Raymond Lully and Roger Bacon. When it was reprinted in 1875, The Magus was an instant hit with occultists and consequently played a key role in the late Victorian occult revival. This large-format facsimile edition is a photographic reproduction of the first edition, with five colour plates reproduced from the original. This is a classic work of the Western esoteric tradition.
 
York Beach: Red Wheel / Weiser, 2000. Paperback, 432 pages. New.