The Book of Were-wolves


Book Description

"Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) was a prolific writer, priest, and an eclectic scholar. He considered collecting folk songs and lore to be among his greatest achievements. His studies of folklore led him to delve into the study of werewolves and why superstitions about lycanthropy persisted over the ages in so many cultures. In addition to providing a history of the subject in this book he also recounts in detail the story of the Maréchal de Retz, who was executed in 1440 for the serial murders of children but was also suspected of being a werewolf. This work is one of the most frequently cited studies on the subject. Bound in the original red publisher's cloth with ornate gilt title to spine and gilt ornament with figure of a wolf on the front cover." -- description from The Kelmscott Bookshop, bookseller.




The Werewolf in Lore and Legend


Book Description

The first definitive work on werewolfery incorporates an extensive range of historical documentation and folklore. Written in a Gothic style by a venerable author of occult studies, it's rich in fascinating examples and anecdotes and offers compelling fare for lovers of the esoteric.




The Book of Were-wolves ...


Book Description

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.




The Werewolf


Book Description

Published in 1933, The Werewolf is one of the first comprehensive books on the subject of werewolves. Author Montague Summers offers detailed historical references and local tales about werewolf encounters, attacks, and transformations. As a member of the clergy, he views the legends of werewolves through a spiritual lens, exploring a variety of opinions and schools of thought on the finer points of werewolf transformation and infection. Part of the Loren Coleman Presents series for Cosimo Classics, this book will entertain and inform those curious about werewolves, gothic folklore, and the occult. AUGUSTUS MONTAGUE SUMMERS (1880-1948) was an English author and clergyman known for his interest in the occult, especially vampires, werewolves, and witches. He wrote dozens of books on the occult, poetry, history, and fiction; he was also the translator of the English version of Malleus Maleficarum, the 15th-century witch hunter's guide. Though highly spiritual, Summers did not obtain a higher rank than deacon in the Church of England due to his peculiar interests. He converted to Catholicism in 1909 and began calling himself Reverend, though he never joined a particular order or diocese; whether he was ever actually ordained as a minister is disputed.




Werewolves and Other Shapeshifters in Popular Culture


Book Description

In recent years, shapeshifting characters in literature, film and television have been on the rise. This has followed the increased use of such characters as metaphors, with novelists and critics identifying specific meanings and topics behind them. This book aims to unravel the shapeshifting trope. Rather than pursue a case-based study, the works are grouped around specific themes--adolescence, gender, sexuality, race, disability, addiction, and spirituality--that are explored through the metaphor of shapeshifting. Because of the transformative possibilities of this metaphor and its flexibility, the shapeshifter has the potential to change how we see our world. With coverage of iconic fantasy texts and a focus on current works, the book engages with the shapeshifting figure in popular culture from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.




The Werewolf Book


Book Description

When Darkness Reigns and the Full Moon Glows, Terror Emerges to Stalk the Unsuspecting… From lycanthropic creatures found on television and film such as Teen Wolf, Twilight, and True Blood to the earliest folklore of shape-shifting creatures, The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shapeshifting Beings is an eye-opening, blood-pounding tour through the ages of monsters with the most amazing camouflage capabilities—they hide among us! Along the way, you’ll land at the doorstep of creatures like hirsute mass-murderer Albert Fish, and Fritz Haarman, who slaughtered and ate his victims—selling the leftovers as steaks and roasts in his butcher shop—as well as visits to mythical shamans, sirens, and skin walkers. Covering 140,000 years of legend, mythology, and fact, The Werewolf Book provides hair-raising evidence of strange and obsessional behavior through the centuries. Learn the basics of becoming a werewolf and the intricacies of slaying the beast. A true homage to werewolves and other full moon beasts, it includes topics such as … • Bear, tiger, coyote, and other shape-shifting people • Classic and modern werewolf movies • Gargoyles, totem poles, and Internet depictions • Serial killers and sadistic rulers • Sorcery, spells, and talismans • Television shows, songs, and computer games Werewolf hunters and fans of all ages will appreciate the detailed section on slaying the beast, while potential victims will find the information on detecting and warding away the occasional wayward wolfman more to their immediate liking—if not need. With over 120 illustrations and photos this ultimate lycanthrope compendium is richly illustrated. The Werewolf Book's helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.




The Lycanthropy Reader


Book Description

Our understanding of lycanthropy is limited by our association of it with contemporary portrayals of werewolves in horror films and gothic fiction. No rational person today believes that a human being can literally be metamorphosed into a wolf; therefore, in the absence of an historical context, the study of werewolves can appear to be a wayward pursuit of the perversely irrational and the sensational. This Reader provides the historical context Drawing on primary sources, it is a comprehensive survey of all aspects of lycanthropy, with a focus on the medieval and Renaissance periods. Lycanthropes were on trial in the courtrooms of Europe, and on examination in medical offices and mental hospitals; they were the objects of communal fear and pity, and the subjects of sermons and philosophical treatises. In the Introduction to the Reader, Charlotte Otten shows that the study of lycanthropy uncovers basic issues in human life the significance of violence and criminality, the role of the demonic in aberrant behavior, and ultimately the nature of good and evil The implications for modern life are immediately apparent. The Reader is divided into six sections ( 1) Medical Cases, Diagnoses, Descriptions; (2) Trial Records, Historical Accounts, Sightings; (3) Philosophical and Theological Approaches to Metamorphosis; ( 4) Critical Essays on Lycanthropy (Anthropology, History, and Medicine); (5) Myths and Legends; and (6) Allegory . Each section has an introduction that summarizes and interprets the materials.




Terrifying Transformations


Book Description

"Fifteen chilling stories of lycanthropy and murder written from 1838 to 1896, many of them reprinted here for the first time. This edition includes a new introduction, notes, and numerous rare Victorian werewolf illustrations"--P. [4] of cover.




She-wolf


Book Description

She-wolf explores the cultural history of the female werewolf, from her first appearance in medieval literature to recent incarnations in film, television and popular literature. The book includes contributors from various disciplines, and offers a cross-period, interdisciplinary exploration of a perennially popular cultural production. The book covers material from the Middle Ages to the present day with chapters on folklore, history, witch trials, Victorian literature, young adult literature, film and gaming. Considering issues such as religious and social contexts, colonialism, constructions of racial and gendered identities, corporeality and subjectivity – as well as female body hair, sexuality and violence – She-wolf reveals the varied ways in which the female werewolf is a manifestation of complex cultural anxieties, as well as a site of continued fascination.




Werewolf Magick


Book Description

Unleash the Wolf Within Raise your confidence, connect to your primal self, and deepen your spirituality with this empowering book of lycanthropic magick. Featuring authentic shape-shifting rituals, spells, meditations, and folklore, Werewolf Magick shows you how to awaken your inner wolf and transform into a happier, braver, and freer person. Denny Sargent leads you on a life-changing journey into the world of primal magick. This practical book reveals how to embrace your fearless Animalself through dozens of hands-on exercises and ancient techniques. Learn to shed the restrictions of modern society and answer the call of your feral being. Master spiritual shape-shifting and meet wolf deities. Discover effective tools, invocations, and symbols to enhance your practice. This ecstatic guide helps bring forth your powerful werewolf self and reach your full, natural potential.