A woman stands in a library filled with wooden bookshelves and numerous books, holding open an old, delicate volume. The book’s pages appear aged and uneven, and the woman is wearing a green long‑sleeved shirt.
Pictured: The Priaulx Library holds five different Petit Alberts.

A “cursed” book of spells is one of the most popular exhibits at Guernsey’s local history library, according to staff.

The Petit Albert is a type of 18th Century ‘grimoire’, a book of spells and rituals showing readers “how to control nature”, according to Dinah Bott of the Priaulx Library.

“Some spells are very dangerous,” she said, “For example, transferring lice from yourself to somebody else.”

Despite seeming “funny” to a modern audience “lice could kill people”, she said.

“They controlled maggots, they controlled vermin and those would be the things that
could get them killed – remember what happened to witches.”

Islanders were so superstitious about the books that many refused to touch a copy, believing they had magic powers.

As recently as the 1980s the library’s then-Deputy Chief Librarian, Bernard Hassell, refused to touch the book, according to the current Chief Librarian, Sue Laker.

An old, fragile book is held open by two hands. The exposed title page reads “SECRETS MERVEILLEUX DE LA MAGIE NATURELLE DU PETIT ALBERT,” printed in French with red and black ink. The pages are yellowed and worn, and the cover appears to be a modern replacement binding.
Many people refused to touch the books for fear of their magic right up to the late 20th Century.

The library holds five Petit Alberts in its strong room, with each having different spells.

“They have different titles and they’re published by different people,” Mrs Bott explained, adding: “They were a phenomenon rather than a specific book.”

The books are among the library’s most popular exhibits, Mrs Bott said, with members of the public free to read them under supervision.

An actor dressed in a historical black puritan's outfit and buckled hat, holding up a small black book - he stands in a field on a cliff. A film crew member holds a clapper board in front which says: Albert. The shoe and leg of another actor are in shot at the front.
Jersey-born actor James Howard plays ‘The Rector’ in upcoming short film ‘Albert’. (Andrew Butler)

The book was even the subject of a local short film, Albert, which explored the book’s mythology.

Steve Foote, Priaulx Library Chief Executive, said witchcraft and folklore were a “gateway drug” into local history for many people.

“They capture the imagination in a way straightforward history doesn’t,” he said.

A wooden library display shelf holds several printed information leaflets under a green sign that reads Library Guides – Free to take. The guides include topics such as paranormal phenomena, piracy and smuggling, medieval Guernsey, Roman Guernsey, witchcraft, the paranormal, and researching a house’s history.
Priaulx Library has printed guides to everything from pirates to the paranormal.

Mr Foote said he hoped members of the public who had been nervous about coming into the Priaulx Library would be tempted in by the grimoires and other books in its collection.

As well as historical research tools, such as parish records, the library also had free access to online family tree websites and digital copies of local and national newspapers.