The Werewolf in Lore and Legend (Paperback)

by Montague Summers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The first definitive work on werewolfery, this book was written by a venerable author of occult studies. Unsurpassed in its sheer scope and depth, it employs a theological and philosophical approach, incorporating an extensive range of historical documentation and folklore. Summers examines the supernatural practice of shapeshifting, notes the finer distinctions between werewolfery and lycanthropy, and explores the differences of opinion on exactly how ordinary humans are transformed into creatures of "unbridled cruelty, bestial ferocity, and ravening hunger." His Gothic style, rich in fascinating examples and anecdotes, offers compelling fare for lovers of esoteric lore. Unabridged republication of the classic 1933 edition.

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Product Details Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Dover Publications (December 19, 2003) Language: English ISBN-10: 0486430901 ISBN-13: 978-0486430904 Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #191,739 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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4 Reviews 5 star:  (1) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:  (1) 1 star:  (1)           Average Customer Review 2.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 14 of 14 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Hugely valuable as a resource for original werewolf lore, September 15, 2007 By  Spibbles (the frozen tundra) - See all my reviews I'm honestly surprised that the only other reviews for this book are as unfavorable as they are. Sure, Montague Summers was a religious zealot and his contempt for the "devilish" practice of werewolfry (not to mention witchcraft, black magic and any similar occult activities) shines through bright and clear in his writing. It is also unfortunate that, as has been noted, he very often quotes from Greek, Latin, French, German and other languages while providing no English translation of those quotations. This practice is a bit irksome for a layperson not versed in these languages, and I for one would appreciate an annotated version in which the quotations have been translated. However, Summers often gives enough of a review (or at least a critique) of the non-English quote to alert the uncultured reader (i.e. probably most of us nowadays) to what he has missed. I would also argue that a literal understanding of his albeit many and varied quotes does not largely detract from the work as a whole. There's still a great plenty of valuable information to be found in this early 20th century work, even if, like me, English is your first--and only--language. Regarding Summer's staunch Christian standpoint--yes, it's very much there--I can only argue that such a standpoint, fanatical and dogmatic though it may be, hardly impacts the veracity (inasmuch as this word can be applied to tales of werewolves) of the multitude of cases of werewolfry that he relates. He may (and very often does) pass judgment on the person on whom a certain story centers, but the point, for me, is that he relates each case more or less as he finds it in the literature (and of course the original case was, very often, first recorded by another religious fanatic...). In other words, regardless of Summer's zest for denouncing werewolfry as a despicable, evil practice meriting the very worst condemnation in hellfire, he nevertheless does a fantastic job of presenting within this book's pages just what its (modern) title promises: a record of The Werewolf in Lore and Legend. With these few minor quibblings out of the way, I must comment on what I found to be most impressive in this book: Summer's astonishingly thorough and far-reaching research. Summers, Christian zealot though he may have been, was also amazingly well-read; his plethora of sources are both millennia- and globe-spanning. With them he paints a picture of The Werewolf as it was known--and feared--in those bygone eras when it was acknowledged as a real entity, untainted by its modern, Hollywood-contrived attributes, to which we have now grown accustomed (and indeed mistakenly taken for granted as original lore). There are only a couple of references to a full moon having anything to do with werewolves; similarly, silver is only mentioned twice, and even then merely as an effective ammunition against practitioners of witchcraft in general, not against werewolves specifically (silver bullets are not mentioned at all). If you're looking for a secular, politically correct overview of the history and lore of werewolves, this is certainly not the book for you. Montague Summers not only believed in the phenomena of (apparent) shape-shifting and werewolfry, he was also quick to condemn them as evidence of dealings with devils. But the breadth and depth of Summer's research can't be beat, and I for one would gladly wade through the morass of Christian overtones in this book than bother with a modern account of werewolves As Described And Reinvented By Modern American Culture. If you're looking for werewolves--the original werewolves--Summers is about as close to The Real Thing as it gets. 19 of 25 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars May not be for the contemporary reader..., August 2, 2005 By  Doruk Golcu - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    A detailed and seemingly well-researched book that is very hard to read and understand because most quotations from non-English sources were left in their original language. 0 of 1 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars Werewolf Dissertation, December 28, 2008 By  All-access Customer - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This book is written like a thesis paper. It's littered with so many quotes (and all are in the original language) and personal anecdotes by the author that you are left frustrated and utterly lost. I picked up this book because I enjoy the lore and legends behind things that go bump in the night, but this written well above the average readers comprehension level. This book is definitely for those who enjoyed De Litanea Minore. Didn't get that? My point exactly.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 2.0 out of 5 stars Narrow minded and a somewhat hard read I hoped for the best when I opened this book, and found the first page quite allright. Then it changed. Read more Published on May 19, 2006 by L. Johnsen Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (December 19, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486430901
• ISBN-13: 978-0486430904
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #191,739 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hugely valuable as a resource for original werewolf lore, September 15, 2007

By	Spibbles (the frozen tundra) - See all my reviews

I'm honestly surprised that the only other reviews for this book are as unfavorable as they are. Sure, Montague Summers was a religious zealot and his contempt for the "devilish" practice of werewolfry (not to mention witchcraft, black magic and any similar occult activities) shines through bright and clear in his writing. It is also unfortunate that, as has been noted, he very often quotes from Greek, Latin, French, German and other languages while providing no English translation of those quotations. This practice is a bit irksome for a layperson not versed in these languages, and I for one would appreciate an annotated version in which the quotations have been translated.

However, Summers often gives enough of a review (or at least a critique) of the non-English quote to alert the uncultured reader (i.e. probably most of us nowadays) to what he has missed. I would also argue that a literal understanding of his albeit many and varied quotes does not largely detract from the work as a whole. There's still a great plenty of valuable information to be found in this early 20th century work, even if, like me, English is your first--and only--language.

Regarding Summer's staunch Christian standpoint--yes, it's very much there--I can only argue that such a standpoint, fanatical and dogmatic though it may be, hardly impacts the veracity (inasmuch as this word can be applied to tales of werewolves) of the multitude of cases of werewolfry that he relates. He may (and very often does) pass judgment on the person on whom a certain story centers, but the point, for me, is that he relates each case more or less as he finds it in the literature (and of course the original case was, very often, first recorded by another religious fanatic...).

In other words, regardless of Summer's zest for denouncing werewolfry as a despicable, evil practice meriting the very worst condemnation in hellfire, he nevertheless does a fantastic job of presenting within this book's pages just what its (modern) title promises: a record of The Werewolf in Lore and Legend.

With these few minor quibblings out of the way, I must comment on what I found to be most impressive in this book: Summer's astonishingly thorough and far-reaching research. Summers, Christian zealot though he may have been, was also amazingly well-read; his plethora of sources are both millennia- and globe-spanning. With them he paints a picture of The Werewolf as it was known--and feared--in those bygone eras when it was acknowledged as a real entity, untainted by its modern, Hollywood-contrived attributes, to which we have now grown accustomed (and indeed mistakenly taken for granted as original lore). There are only a couple of references to a full moon having anything to do with werewolves; similarly, silver is only mentioned twice, and even then merely as an effective ammunition against practitioners of witchcraft in general, not against werewolves specifically (silver bullets are not mentioned at all).

If you're looking for a secular, politically correct overview of the history and lore of werewolves, this is certainly not the book for you. Montague Summers not only believed in the phenomena of (apparent) shape-shifting and werewolfry, he was also quick to condemn them as evidence of dealings with devils. But the breadth and depth of Summer's research can't be beat, and I for one would gladly wade through the morass of Christian overtones in this book than bother with a modern account of werewolves As Described And Reinvented By Modern American Culture. If you're looking for werewolves--the original werewolves--Summers is about as close to The Real Thing as it gets.

19 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars May not be for the contemporary reader..., August 2, 2005

By	Doruk Golcu - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A detailed and seemingly well-researched book that is very hard to read and understand because most quotations from non-English sources were left in their original language.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Werewolf Dissertation, December 28, 2008

By	All-access Customer - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is written like a thesis paper. It's littered with so many quotes (and all are in the original language) and personal anecdotes by the author that you are left frustrated and utterly lost.

I picked up this book because I enjoy the lore and legends behind things that go bump in the night, but this written well above the average readers comprehension level.

This book is definitely for those who enjoyed De Litanea Minore.


Didn't get that? My point exactly.