Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder. The Venomous Maiden and Other Stories of the Supernatural. By Claude Lecouteux.
$30.00
A collection of tales from the Middle Ages focused on otherworldly powers, magical animals, miracles, demonic apparitions, and supernatural events
• Offers commentary for each story, revealing its historical context, cultural and esoteric associations, and hidden pagan beliefs
• Explores how the tales transformed over the ages and their origins in Classical Antiquity, the Middle East, and India
• Includes stories never-before-translated from their original Latin and many purposely left in obscurity due to scandalous depictions of popes and other notables
The Middle Ages witnessed the blossoming of oral traditions whose echoes can still be found in many legends, fables, and tales today.
In this collection of medieval tales of witchcraft, wonder, and the supernatural, Claude and Corinne Lecouteux explain how many of these stories arose in Classical Antiquity while some made their way into Dark Ages Europe from the Middle East and India. Offering commentary for each tale, the authors place them in historical context and analyze their cultural and esoteric associations. They include stories never- before-translated from their original Latin or demotic versions and show how, unlike the well-known fairy tales made popular by the Brothers Grimm, many stories were purposely left in obscurity because they presented scandalous depictions of popes and other notables. Additionally, for many of the tales, the authors scrupulously peel back the Christian veneer to show how the stories were instrumental in assuring the survival of age-old pagan beliefs across the centuries.
These beliefs are explored through tales of animals with magical powers and the ability to converse with humans, including the tale of the Grateful Lion made famous through Aesop’s fables; stories of individuals with supernatural or otherworldly powers, like the Venomous Maiden who poisons all men who have relations with her; legends of miracles and wondrous things that violate the laws of nature, such as people returning from the dead to help a descendant; and stories of witchcraft, magic, and demonic apparitions, including the pope who was a disguised demon. The authors also explore tales of supernatural spouses and illicit love affairs, wisdom teachings and parables of fools, and heroic legends.
320 Pages
Measures approximately 6″ x 9″
In stock
| Weight | 1.8 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 7 × 9 in |
Shipping
Ritualcravt ships two-three times per week. Please understand we are a two-person shipping operation and do our best to get your goods to you as quickly as possible. Orders generally ship the next shipping day after your order is placed, however, sometimes we receive dozens of orders in one day and we split orders between the next two shipping days. During our bi-annual sales events, shipping times can be 2-3 weeks after orders are placed. Preorders are shipped as soon as we receive the products to us. If you order other products with your preorder, they will all be shipped together when the preorder is shipped to you. Shipping is calculated by the weight of the product, any shipping overages will be refunded at the time of mailing. You will receive an email when your order has shipped with a tracking number. If you have not received an order receipt, or shipping confirmation email, please check your junk, spam, or promotions folders and be sure to add shop@ritualcravt.com to your safe list.
Returns
Ritualcravt does not generally take returns or exchanges. If your item arrives broken, or you received the wrong item, please email us at shop@ritualcravt.com. However, if you feel that you need to ask for a return or exchange, there is a 4 day grace period after the item is received and we do our best to be understanding. Please note we are firm on this. Anything after that will be declined. With any concerns, even outside of the grace period, please feel free to communicate respectfully and we will respond respectfully as well.
