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What are the best texts one can read in terms of witchcraft, theory and practice? Is it key to understand the history of witchcraft first?

There are a whole host of what are called' Wicca 101' books. They tend to be aimed at the teen market, like Silver Raven Wolf books. In some ways, it is almost easiest to tell you what books to stay away from rather than which books to buy. Obviously stay away from the aforementioned Silver Raven Wolf's books. Hmmm there are different opinions about which is the best beginners book. I would suggest Uncle Buck's Big Blue Book (Raymond Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft). I come from a British Traditional Wiccan background so I may be biased. A Witches' Bible -The Complete Witches' Handbook by Janet and Stewart Farrar was my favourite but it might be a bit dated anymore. Another popular recommendation is Cunningham's Solitary Practicianer. These would explain the theory and some of the theology behind witchcraft. There are books of spells on the market, but it is best to design your own.

If you want to get into Wiccan and witchcraft history, there is Professor Ronald Hutton's The Triumph of the Moon. It is quite good. Hutton is a professor of Renaissance history in the University of Bristol, UK. There is also Margot Adler's Drawing Down the Moon. Her grandpa was the famous psychiatrist Alfred Adler. Most recently, Philip Heselton has written several books on Gerald Gardner that are interesting.