CASSELL'S DICTIONARY OF SUPERSTITIONS is a fascinating guide to a diverse range of popularly held fears and beliefs. Many are still familiar and widespread; others now belong firmly to the past, but are intriguing nonetheless for the insights they offer into human preoccupations and taboos. Entries are arranged alphabetically by subject and vary from brief accounts of the superstitions related to specific daily tasks, medical ailments, plants and animals, to expansive discussions of wider topics, such as the weather, childbirth and death. In addition, many traditional rhymes and chants are included, ranging from couplets to be chanted to avoid the dangers of being bewitched, to spells that my be tried in the hope of gleaning information about the future.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
David Pickering is an experienced freelance writer and editor, who specialises in compiling arts and general reference books. An English language and literature graduate of St Peter's College, Oxford, his most recent credits as author and editor have included THE CASSELL SOCCER COMPANION, THE CASSELL COMPANION TO TWENTIETH-CENTURY MUSIC, THE CASSELL DICTIONARY OF PROVERBS, THE CASSELL DICTIONARY OF WITCHCRAFT, THE CASSELL DICTIONARY OF FOLKLORE and CASSELL'S SPORTS QUOTATIONS. He lives in Buckingham with his wife and two sons.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A fairly average book on superstition,
By
This review is from: Cassell's Dictionary of Superstitions (Cassell Reference) (Paperback)
I own four books that claim to be "dictionaries" of superstitions, and three that claim to be "encyclopedias" of superstitions -- along with numerous other books on the topic. Among all of these, I'd have to put this one somewhere in the middle. One thing it has going for it, the alphabetic articles are pretty well written, albeit not quite as entertaining and interesting as "Encyclopedia of Superstitions" revised version by Christina Hole or "Encyclopedia of Signs, Omens and Superstitions" by Zolar. It does take an international perspective and cover topics fully, and frankly has some beliefs I have not read elsewhere. However, the problem here, as with many other superstition "encyclopedias" and "dictionaries" is the lack of any references. This to me at least is a problem; I like to know where a belief came from. However, this is still a decent book on this topic, but if you intend on just owning one "dictionary" or "encyclopedia" of superstitions I would recommend Christina Hole's revision of "Encyclopedia of Superstitions."
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Recommended for the Amateur Folklorist,
By
This review is from: Cassell's Dictionary of Superstitions (Cassell Reference) (Paperback)
As someone with a great interest in myth, legend, and folklore, I am constantly looking for sourcebooks and reference materials on the subject. Some, of course, are better than others, and some are worse. Cassell's Dictionary of Superstitions is, I must say, one of the better ones, and I can highly recommend it. I bought this book sight-unseen and have not been disappointed. Within you will find references to a near-encyclopaedic listing of items, ideas, places, worldviews, etc. detailing the superstitions and beliefs associated with them. Most of these are written from a British perspective, but references to American beliefs are included as well. I've been able to find information in this book that I haven't been able to find on other sources and am exceptionally pleased with my choice. Highly recommended.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Boring Book on various English Superstitions,
By Magickal Merlin "Wizard" (Death Valley-SoCal) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Cassell's Dictionary of Superstitions (Cassell Reference) (Paperback)
What a disappointing book!There are many other quality folklore books around thesedays.This may be a reprint ,from the mid 70's.The entries are plain and dull,and even childish.If you can get this book,on the cheap,then get the book.It does have some rather interesting odd bits of not well-known information.Yet,it's a rather insipid encyclopedia for such a magickal topic,like superstitions.When it was published ,the neo-paganism movement was dormant.And now the neo-pagan books are everywhere.It's a book on basic English folklore,written with a curious christian perspective.
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