Werwolves

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26629

Title

Werwolves

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Elliott O'Donnell's *Werwolves* explores the universal belief in lycanthropy across history and geography. Blending historical analysis with supernatural tales, the book examines werwolves as both physical anomalies and spiritual entities, offering a compelling look into humanity's enduring fascination with the beast within.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Werwolves*, Elliott O'Donnell challenges the prevailing skepticism that regards lycanthropy as mere superstition or mass hysteria. Instead, he argues that werwolves represent an established fact rooted in ancient human powers and latent psychic abilities inherited from creation. O'Donnell traces the phenomenon globally, noting its presence from Anglo-Saxon origins to occurrences in France, Germany, Spain, Scandinavia, and beyond. He asserts that the term 'werwolf' is nearly universal, derived from words meaning 'man' and 'wolf' in various languages, indicating a widespread belief in beings that can metamorphose, though the nature of this change varies by region and gender. The author rigorously distinguishes lycanthropy from the doctrine of soul transmigration. While metempsychosis involves the soul passing into another form after death, lycanthropy is a physical faculty possessed during a lifetime, independent of spiritual evolution. O'Donnell contends that while most humans lost these elemental powers, a select few 'psychic' individuals retain them. He supports this view with biblical precedents, citing instances of sorcery and elemental projection in the Hebrew scriptures, and references classical historians like Herodotus, Aristotle, and Virgil who documented these anomalies. The narrative includes vivid accounts of transformations, such as a traveler encountering jaguars that reveal human faces, and a dramatic exorcism in Estonia where soldiers capture werwolves. O'Donnell addresses the historical trials where accused individuals confessed under duress, suggesting these were often driven by malice or hysteria rather than proof of non-existence. He maintains that dismissing witness testimony as hallucination is an assumption lacking conclusive proof. Ultimately, the book presents lycanthropy as a profound mystery involving elemental forces and the thin veil between the physical and spiritual worlds. Through stories of jaguars turning into humans and the exorcism of captured beasts, O'Donnell validates the existence of these beings, arguing that they are real anomalies that bridge the gap between man and beast, magic and nature.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26629.epub.noimages

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data/epubs/pg26629.epub

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Categories

• Fiction
• Horror