It is with a heavy heart
that I announce the passing of Dr. Dave Evans, a historian who carried out
pioneering work in documenting various facets of the British occult milieu
since 1947. A practising magician as well as a scholar, Dave was the author of
both Aleister Crowley and the 20th Century Synthesis of Magic (2001) and
The History of British Magick After Crowley (2007), the latter based on doctoral
research that he undertook at Bristol University under Professor Ronald Hutton.
Dr Evans was also the
co-editor of Ten Years of Triumph of the Moon (2009), editor of The
Enduring Problems with Prophecy (2012), and author of articles and chapters
in a range of both academic and popular outlets. He was also the mastermind
behind the Academic Study of Magic list-serve, and with Dr Alison Butler was
responsible for creating the Journal for the Academic Study of Magic; these
ventures have helped bring together scholars interested in Western esotericism,
witchcraft, and allied areas in constructive dialogue.
Dr Evans was a down-to-earth
and funny guy. He was very much straight talking, always willing to give a
forthright answer or honest opinion, which was probably part of what made him
so endearing to his friends. He kindly gave an interview
with me here at Albion Calling last December, in which he reflected on his
life and work; reading it back now gives an added poignancy to many of his
comments. I hope that the interview acts as something of a tribute to him and encourages
future readership for his work.
Having been diagnosed
with a terminal illness earlier this summer, Dave decided to live out his last
days amongst the beautiful scenery of New Zealand.
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