The Book of Were-Wolves

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Book of Were-Wolves

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Sabine Baring-Gould's *The Book of Were-Wolves* investigates the dark history of lycanthropy, blending ancient folklore with grim historical cases. The text explores the darker side of human transformation myths, examining superstition alongside early rational explanations for bloodlust and madness.

Summary up to 500 words

In *The Book of Were-Wolves* (1865), Sabine Baring-Gould investigates the history and habits of mythical were-wolves, arguing that beneath the veil of mythology lies a solid reality of human madness. The author begins with a personal anecdote from Vienne, where local superstition warns of the *loups-garoux*, establishing the book's goal to distinguish myth from fact. Baring-Gould categorizes lycanthropy not as magical transformation but as a form of insanity or a specific bloodthirsty impulse. He draws upon ancient writers like Ovid and Herodotus to show how early cultures explained these phenomena, ranging from divine punishment to magical enchantment. The narrative then shifts to a clinical examination of the condition, citing medieval trials and modern cases to demonstrate that were-wolves were often individuals suffering from severe psychosis or possessing an innate, cruel nature. The author details the gruesome crimes of figures like the Maréchal de Retz and the cannibal Bertrand, illustrating how a relaxation of moral restraint or a shock to the intellect could unleash a 'devouring flame' of violence. Baring-Gould also addresses the natural causes of such behavior, noting that a propensity for cruelty exists in varying degrees among humanity, from children gorging on dying animals to refined individuals who derive pleasure from destruction. The book concludes by analyzing a 1508 sermon by Dr. Johann Geiler von Keysersperg, which attributes wolf attacks to hunger, savageness, and divine ordinance, ultimately suggesting that were-wolves are simply wolves driven by instinct or men possessed by a diabolical hunger for blood. Through these varied accounts, the text presents a comprehensive, albeit grim, overview of how humanity has understood and feared the transformation of man into beast.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/sabine-baring-gould_book-of-were-wolves.epub

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data/epubs/url-f5e01d6b2387207a.epub

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Categories

• Folklore
• Mythology