The Evil Eye

The Evil Eye: The History, Mystery, and Magic of the Quiet Curse
Antonio Pagliarulo
ISBN 978-1-57863-797-3
Weiser Books
$18.95

Antonio Pagliarulo grew up watching his grandmother cure malocchio from her kitchen in the Bronx, and as a child he assumed such practices to be uniquely Italian. He opens The Evil Eye by describing his shock upon discovering how universal belief in the eye is when as a teenager he entered public school and began making friends of other ethnic and religious backgrounds. In the folk practices he discusses throughout the book, he weaves in both his own experiences and information from many traditions.

Pagliarulo not only covers the history and lore surrounding the evil eye, but also offers plenty of practical advice. The first two chapters describe the evil eye and its history across cultures, while the rest of the book provides the reader with hands-on guidance, offering numerous spells and detailed instructions on how to employ various herbs and common household objects in the defense against and remedy of the eye. He covers amulets and talismans in depth and also devotes chapters to diagnosing and curing the eye. Throughout, he offers spells and prayers from numerous cultures and religions so that the reader has an array of symbolism upon which to draw.

Whether you’re interested in the evil eye as folk magic or from a historical perspective, or you want to learn to diagnose and cure it but didn’t grow up in a family that could teach you, or even if you think you may be afflicted by the eye and are looking for a remedy, Antonio Pagliarule’s The Evil Eye deserves a place on your shelf.