An insider's look at the history of Witchcraft. The evolution of Wicca is as dynamic and colorful as the Witches who helped shape it. One of the most enigmatic and progressive practitioners of his time, Gerald Gardner was arguably the most instrumental Witch in spreading the Craft around the world. Drawing on his decades of personal involvement with Wicca, Michael Howard offers an intimate portrait of Gerald Gardner's life and traces the history and development of modern neo-pagan Witchcraft. Howard reveals little-known facts and stories surrounding the men and women who shaped Wicca over the past sixty years, including Aleister Crowley, Alex Sanders, and influential initiates such as Doreen Valiente. From the Museum of Magic and Witchcraft on the Isle of Man to the origins of the Book of Shadows, Modern Wicca tracks the expansion of Wicca as it spread from the United Kingdom to the United States and beyond-and takes you inside the political controversies ...;Journeying to foreign lands -- Into the witch cult -- The Pickingill connection -- Gerald Gardner and the great beast -- A magical book of shadows -- The Museum of Witchcraft -- Witchcraft today -- Enemies within and without -- New witch blood -- Pretenders and rivals -- The king of the witches -- The politics of Wicca -- The Pagan Federation emerges -- Wicca international -- Witches in cyberspace -- Wiccans in the 21st century.