Ernesto de Martino was a major critical thinker in the study of vernacular religions, producing innovative analyses of key concepts such as 'folklore', 'magic' and 'ritual'. His methodology stemmed from his training under the philosopher Benedetto Croce whilst his philosophical approach to anthropology borrowed from Marx and Gramsci. Widely celebrated in continental Europe, de Martino's contribution to the study of religion has not been fully understood in the Anglophone world though some of his works - 'Primitive Magic: the Psychic Powers of Shamans and Sorcerers' and 'The Land of Remorse: a Study of Southern Italian Tarantism' - have been translated. This volume presents a comprehensive overview of de Martino's life and work, the thinkers and theories which informed his writings, his contribution to the study of religions and the potential of his methodology for contemporary scholarship.

Fabrizio M. Ferrari is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Chester.

Preface Introduction Chapter 1: The Life, Works and Influences of Ernesto de Martino Chapter 2: De Martino's Writings on Religion Chapter 3: From Militant Ethnology to Critical Ethnocentrism Chapter 4: Religion, Magic and the Crisis of the Presence Chapter 5: Using de Martino to Interpret Religion: Applications and Limitations Conclusion