The Magic of Mushrooms

Fungi in folklore, science and the occult

Featuring images of over 100 species, this book explains the folklore, science and occult of fungi, showing that from saving lives to expanding the mind, the potential of these fascinating organisms should not be underestimated.

Explore the wonderful world of some of the most incredible natural forms on our planet - fungi.

At the centre of countless superstitions, folkloric tales and magical beliefs, as well as appearing in recipes and medicines both traditional and modern, mushrooms have incredible powers.

Featuring images of over 100 fascinating species, sourced from the archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, The Magic of Mushrooms shows that from saving lives to expanding the mind, the potential of these fascinating organisms should not be underestimated.

About the Author

Sandra Lawrence is a freelance journalist and author, writing, over the past 20-odd years, hundreds of articles; for all the broadsheets and over 60 magazines and journals. She specialises in heritage and garden writing; publications to which she has contributed horticultural features include The Daily and Sunday Telegraph, Times Weekend, The Guardian, Independent, FT, Britain, British Heritage, The English Garden, Hortus, Landscape, Garden News, Country Life and Homes & Gardens. She is a columnist for British Heritage Travel and on the Q&A expert panel for History Revealed. She is a full member of the Garden Media Guild.

Sandra is the author of 14 non-fiction books for adults and children, on a variety of subjects, ranging from history (including Murder and Mayhem, Trials and Treachery and Instant History) via myths, legends and folklore (including Myths & Legends; An Atlas of Heroes and An Atlas of Monsters) and quirky heritage (Paperscapes: Paris; Paperscapes: London).

Sandra was shortlisted for GMG Journalist of the Year, 2018-19, for a series of three long-form essays in Hortus about the Victorian Kitchen Garden; she was also shortlisted for the SLA's Information Book Award in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.