Review of Anton, Enchantress

THE JEWISH CHRONICLE: Heaven sent: Judaism’s magical mystery tour of the Talmud’s sorcery, spells (Toby Tabachnick).

The magic conjured up by J.K. Rowling in her “Harry Potter” series and the magic revealed in Maggie Anton’s new book, “Enchantress,” are two very different kinds of magic, according to the author best known for her popular “Rashi’s Daughters” trilogy.

“I didn’t make up the spells, like in ‘Harry Potter,’” Anton explained.

Rather, she said, the spells that appear in “Enchantress,” her fictional account of the life of Rav Hisda’s daughter — a character described in the Talmud, were all derived from actual incantations inscribed on Jewish archaeological artifacts dating from fourth-century Babylon.

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Yes, but more like seventh-century Babylon. Background here and links.