ARADIA

Focusing on the origins of Italian pagan witchcraft, the book presents a translation of the Vangelo, an Italian manuscript provided by Leland's informant, Maddalena. It encompasses Leland's extensive research into Italian folklore, revealing the beliefs, rituals, and spells of this tradition across fifteen chapters. Central to the narrative is the goddess Aradia, who is depicted as a liberating figure, teaching witchcraft to peasants to empower them against feudal oppression and the Catholic Church.