Customer Reviews

Book of Werewolves: Being an Account of Terrible Superstition

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Sabine Baring-Gould spent a lifetime writing books on any subject he could find, totalling well over 100, but we might not have had this one if it weren't for a chance encounter with an unknown creature on a dark and foggy moor. One would expect a book full of righteous indignations about the power of god over evil (considering he was a priest), or one that gives in fully to the fantasy of the myth, but instead, Baring-gould recounts a history of the myth that is not only analytical and modern (he equates lycanthropy to mental afflictions and diseases like lupus) but always enthralling and intriguing. From the history of the words surrounding the myth to a detailed account of the truths surrounding the Marechal de Rais (the true Bluebeard) Baring-Gould proves with a resounding howl that the truth is stranger than fiction! This book is a must for fans of the macabre!

The first time I found The Book of Werewolves, I was doing research for a paper in English 102 during my second symester at the university I was attending. I was astonished how accuratly a man born in the early part of the 19th century had assessed the history of lycanthropy and discussed the mental instibility of those believing that they could alter their form from human to wolf. I spent years afterword searching for a copy of the text that I may keep for my own. Luckily, I was able to obtain a copy because it had finally returned to print. And when I found this sight and saw that criticisms were accepted for books available, I decided to take the time to tell anyone who has thought about obtaining this book that they should run, not walk, to the order area here and pick up a copy

A frightfully interesting thesis concerning lycanthropy. It deals with reactions to the phenomenon in classical civilisations, Norse mythology, as well as its trial. Lots of areas of this complex subject matter are exposed.