Magical and Mystical Sites: Europe and the British Isles

A treat for those who just plain love to read, Magical and Mystical Sites was coedited by Elizabeth Pepper and John Wilcock. (Wilcock is a travel writer whose valise is covered with stickers from all over the world, including Venezuela, Japan, Greece, Vancouver, and occult guides to Britain and South America.) Also coeditors of the Witches' Almanac, Wilcock and Pepper turn their witty and seasoned eyes to the ancient world. Starting in Turkey, they explore the ruined city of Ephesus near present-day Smyrna to uncover every tad of information they can about the goddess Diana whose temple stood there for hundreds of years. The reader is shown what it was like then and what it is like now, plus loads of tidbits for those intending to visit. The journey wends its way to 28 spots between Turkey and Ireland, including some in Greece, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The chapter on Samos--containing a biographical sketch of its native son Pythagorus--is alone worth the fare. --P. Randall Cohan