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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?

Depends what your looking for, mainstream or older information... What you want to learn specificly - Just for your benefit I would suggest being a bit more specific so the more experienced here can refer you to exactly what you need and want.

I'm really not sure specifically to be honest, I don't know anything about witchcraft. I suppose a good introduction book, a book about older spells, and a book about the theory behind witchcraft (which may just coincide with the introduction book).

Thanks for pointing that out to me!

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.

Thank you for the recommendations, I'll be looking to buy The Complete Book of Witchcraft when I get the chance too.

Best Regards.

Buckland and Cunningham are generally good authors to start with, imho.

Okay, I just flew by this thread. I noticed all the texts recommended here are pretty modern mainstream books. Does anyone know of any that cover the older magic, pre-gardenian/crowley/whatever all this new stuff...? I know they're a lot harder to find, but I was hoping someone might be able to point some out.

I really enjoyed "The Witching Way of Hollow Hill" by Robin Artisson, which is supposed to be about traditionnal witchcraft. Quite a big portion of the book is about ancient pagan worldview and the goatish Master of witchcraft (who is very "luciferian") as well as the other main spirits of the craft, and the author also gives instructions for casting the circle of art (which involves no wachtower/quarter callings although the cardinal directions have associations for certain types rituals) and for travelling to the Underworld. I ordered "The Horn of Evenwood" (which gives the basic instructions for rituals in the light of the first book I mentionned)as soon as it was released. Loved it too.

Okay, I just flew by this thread. I noticed all the texts recommended here are pretty modern mainstream books. Does anyone know of any that cover the older magic, pre-gardenian/crowley/whatever all this new stuff...? I know they're a lot harder to find, but I was hoping someone might be able to point some out.

Well, there's Mastering Witchcraft by Paul Huson. It's "recent" (1980, I believe) but it is also supposed to teach traditional witchcraft. I've read it and it is certainly not Gardnerian or Wiccan at all. You can buy it, or read it online as a pdf.

The problem with Huson's book in PDF form is that it doesn't include the diagrams. I have both versions, but the PDF version with its lack of diagrams is not that useful. The diagrams are key elements IMHO. It might be worth your while though to buy the paper version.