The Book of Werewolves [Hardcover]

Sabine Baring-Gould (Author), Loren Coleman (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2008

Eclectic British scholar SABINE BARING-GOULD (1834-1924) inspired My Fair Lady, wrote the hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers," and published more than five hundred literary works. Among his foremost folkloric studies is 1865's The Book of Werewolves, the first serious academic study of the shape-shifters of mythological lore. "This work is the most frequently cited early study of lycanthropy and is regarded by most scholars as the foundation work in the field," says cryptozoologist Loren Coleman in his new introduction. "The Book of Werewolves was so visionary that it foresaw that future discussions within werewolf studies would necessarily travel down many side paths. Indeed, midway through The Book of Werewolves, Baring-Gould treks into the shadowy world of crimes vaguely connected to werewolves, including serial murders, grave desecration, and cannibalism." This new edition, complete with the original illustrations, is part of Cosimo's Loren Coleman Presents series. LOREN COLEMAN is author of numerous books of cryptozoology, including Bigfoot!: The True Story of Apes in America and Mothman and Other Curious Encounters.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

About the Author:

"The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould (28 January 1834 - 2 January 1924) was an English hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist and eclectic scholar. His bibliography lists more than 500 separate publications. His family home, Lewtrenchard Manor near Okehampton, Devon, has been preserved as he rebuilt it and is now a hotel. He is remembered particularly as a writer of hymns, the best-known being "Onward, Christian Soldiers" and "Now the Day Is Over", and the desk at which he wrote these hymns is still preserved at the hotel. He also translated the carol "Gabriel's Message" from Basque to English.

His education at The King's School, Warwick lasted just a few months in 1846 - he caught whooping-cough and was ordered to go abroad for the sake of his health. He then went up to Cambridge earning the degrees of B.A. in 1857, then M.A. in 1860 from Clare College." (Quote from wikipedia.org) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Cosimo Classics (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605201138
• ISBN-13: 978-1605201139
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,853,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Long in the tooth, but still has bite!, September 6, 2005

By 

Prelati (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Book of Werewolves (Paperback)

Arguably the first definitive study of the topic, penned by the eccentric clergyman best known for writing the hymn 'Onward Christian Soldiers', this 1865 volume still beats most of the modern competition paws down. Its age means some will find it a tough read, but for others that will just enhance its charms. 'The Book of Werewolves' is still impressive scholarship today, and it was this volume that first made the careers of real-life monsters Gilles de Rais and Countess Bathory familiar to English readers (though somewhat toned down for its original Victorian audience). If you're serious about your lycanthropes, then this belongs on your shelf right beside Charlotte Otten's recent 'Lycanthropy Reader'.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book of Werewolves, September 7, 2005

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Cwn_Annwn (Copenhagen, Denmark) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Book of Werewolves (Paperback)

Written in the 1860's but still holding up to the test of time this book ranks as a classic of European lore on lycanthropy/shapeshifting in particular pertaining to werewolves. Worth its weight in gold just for the two chapters on Scandinavian wolf lore, and the idea that the viking berserkers were werewolves/shapeshifters. But besides that there is plenty of folklore on werewolves/shapeshifting in eastern Europe, France, and various other places in Europe. Also historical documentation of medieval serial killers who were alleged to be werewolves is recounted, as well as Baring-Goulds own encounters with local werewolf legends that had people in fear to go in the woods alone in various locales in France that he visited. The only fault I see with this book is that even though for a book written when it was it really covers a lot of bases the vast amount of Celtic shapeshifting/werewolf lore that exists is not included. Regardless this book still remains a timeless classic work.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baring-Gould's Classic on Werewolves Still Ignites Interest!, October 4, 2005

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Queen of Cups (NYC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Werewolves (Paperback)

Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) was a Vicar in the Church of England in Devon, an archaeologist, folklorist, historian and a prolific author. Baring-Gould was also a bit eccentric. He reputedly taught classes with a pet bat on his shoulder. He is best known for writing the hymn 'Onward Christian Soldiers'.

This book is one of the most cited references about werewolves. The Book of the werewolf takes a rationalistic approach to the subject.

The book starts off with a straightforward academic review of the literature of shape-shifting; however, starting with Chapter XI, the narrative takes a strange turn into sensationalistic 'true crime' case-studies of cannibals, grave desecrators, and blood fetishists, which have a tenuous connection with lycanthropy. This includes an extended treatment of the case of Giles de Rais, the notorious associate of Joan of Arc, who was convicted and executed for necrosadistic crimes. Margaret Murray had a controversial theory about this subject

All that aside, if you are the least bit interested in Lycanthropy, you have to read this book!