“The Book of Werewolves”, by the Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould, is a treatment of the origins of the European werewolf legend. Published in 1865, it contains a combination of personal experiences, werewolf lore through the centuries, psychological insights and speculations and accounts of real-life crimes that fit the werewolf legendary, many of which would by today’s standards make their authors serial killers…. More >>
This is the worst book on werewolves! How completely boring this book is- it was probably still boring in 1865, when it was written. I couldn’t ever get throught this book because it is written so badly and is ever so boring. And no illustrations didn’t help, either! I’m glad I didn’t buy this book; I checked it out of the library. What a waste of time this book is. Please don’t read this because it is sodding awful! Get any other book on werewolves. I wish the author was killed by a wolf before he could publish this uninteresting piece of junk. Believe me- this book is duller than you are!
Rating: 1 / 5
I like the book, but someone didn’t proofread this thing. I found typos on page one! The author does an excellent job of citing sources and really demonstrates a fundamental understanding of the anthropological history of Werewolves. The book isn’t for light reading. There’s plenty of Greek and Latin excerpts and the language is a bit stilted. Still, if you want a good, well-rounded history of Werewolves – buy it.
Rating: 3 / 5
The book was a purchase for my son who is serving in the military.
He has enjoyed it and I am glad that it was available at a fair cost.
The history in the book is deep and very gripping.
Thanks
Rating: 5 / 5
Not a bad book, but I was also after more modern versions and stories, how and why the werewolf came to be created and to be such a widespread phenom, how to kill them, how they truly live, their character, etc, etc, etc….
I liked the book for what it is, but I want something more “MEATY FACTS AND THEORY” into the mythical beast I have come to love and envy.
Rating: 3 / 5
This book is an example of the Victorian type of scholarship that ropes in everything that could concievably have something to do with the topic at hand. This means you get lots of interesting things around the edges. It should have made the book longer though. I was rather disappointed. This is why I only gave the book 3 stars. It’s great stuff but the book should be thicker.
A lot of the material centers on medieval France. It becomes pretty clear that what was known as a ‘werewolf’ at that time was what we would now call a ’serial killer’ of a certain type, a modern example being Jeffrey Dahlmer. I wound up giving my copy to a friend who is an amateur criminologist, to be shared with her daughter the vampire expert.
Rating: 3 / 5