Since before recorded history, werewolves have captivated human imagination. Today, werewolves are portrayed negatively. However, this was not the case long ago: the time has come to rediscover the legend of the werewolf. This book is my graduate-level thesis published into book format, a work of passion and lifelong dedication to werewolf studies. Be warned I can be strong in my convictions and opinions, both at the time of this book's conception and now, regardless of how those opinions may evolve and change with time.
Originally written in 1865, Sabine Baring-Gould’s The Book of Were-Wolves is still considered among the best of sources in the field of werewolf studies, as well as folklore studies and the occult. A passionate dive into the folkloric and real history of werewolves, witches and sorcerers, and even madmen and serial killers, Baring-Gould takes a scientific approach to “proving” the reality behind werewolf legends. In doing so, he discusses werewolf legends across history, with particular focus on Scandinavia and the Renaissance / Early Modern eras, and even discusses other shapeshifter folklore from around the world, as well as providing trial accounts of famous killers such as Gilles de Rais. This book is a must-have for scholars in multiple fields and anyone interested in the history of the werewolf legend. The editor’s contribution of annotations and translations provide further context to Baring-Gould’s work, but his words in themselves are unabridged and uncensored from his original text.
