Sorceress or Witch? [Paperback]

Katherine Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 27, 1991 | ISBN-10: 0819182575 | ISBN-13: 978-0819182579

Sorceress or Witch? is primarily a literary study highlighting the thematic content of Icelandic literature as it compares with the legal, literary, and historical Germanic sources of early medieval Europe. The text discusses the characteristics of female witches: the seeress, the sorceress, witches and animals, the lascivious witch, and the cannibal woman. It is a kind of case study on how the change in the medieval religious Weltanschauung (from pagan to Christian) affected the role of women and magic. The book also includes 40 illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The book puts together some valuable material....>>>> (D.A. Miller )

This excellent investigation will correct many misconceptions that have emerged from the works of scholars who have relied almost exclusively on late medieval sources.>>>> (Donald Ward )

This excellent investigation will correct many misconceptions that have emerged from the works of scholars who have relied almost exclusively on late medieval sources. (Donald Ward )

The book puts together some valuable material.... (D.A. Miller )

About the Author

Katherine Morris is a visiting scholar in the Department of Germanic Languages at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Product Details

• Paperback: 262 pages
• Publisher: University Press Of America (June 27, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819182575
• ISBN-13: 978-0819182579
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,961,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not Great, May 15, 2002

By 

Rede Seeker (Cincinnati, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sorceress or Witch? (Hardcover)

The Author's grasp of the Icelandic sagas is not complete and in some places misleading. For example page 86 where she states that Grettir the Strong dies of gangrene poisoning. The manner of his death is a significant part of the saga - and he did not die from gangrene. She includes Gudrun from the Laxdaela Saga as a witch-figure. The Author also contends (page 145) that '...the Edda and saga literature describe very few other lascivious witch figures...' than Freya, and that she is an anomoly.

If there were insights on seidh or herb-lore, I missed them.

I recommend reading the sagas (check out Penguin Classics or Everyman Press) to learn about the Icelandic witch figure. Two books I recommend are: 'The Witch Figure' edited by V. Newall (Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1973); and 'Lady With a Mead Cup' by Michael J. Enright (Four Courts Press, 1996).

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Gem, July 23, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sorceress or Witch? (Paperback)

One of the most interesting insights into female power and persuasion, this book examines pre and post conversion roles of women and the link between the feminine and what is percieved as the supernatural. Included is information about Shamanism, Birth Control, Herblore, and the evolution of the stereotypical image of the witch in Christian dominated times. A completely fascinating read, very highly reccomended for anybody interested in SeidhR or herblore.