Bibliograph

The mammoth book of superstition, Roy Bainton

Type

Label

The mammoth book of superstition, Roy Bainton

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The mammoth book of superstition

Nature of contents

bibliography

Responsibility statement

Roy Bainton

Series statement

Mammoth book of

Summary

SOCIAL & CULTURAL HISTORY. Rather than providing a dictionary of superstitions, of which there are already numerous excellent, exhaustive and, in many cases, academic works which list superstitions from A to Z, Bainton gives us an entertaining flight over the terrain, landing from time to time in more thought-provoking areas. He offers an overview of humanity's often illogical and irrational persistence in seeking good luck and avoiding misfortune. While Steve Roud's two excellent books - The Penguin Dictionary of Superstitions and his Pocket Guide - and Philippa Waring's 1970 Dictionary concentrate on the British Isles, Bainton casts his net much wider. There are many origins which warrant the full back story, such as Friday the thirteenth and the Knights Templar, or the demonisation of the domestic cat resulting in 'cat holocausts' throughout Europe led by the Popes and the Inquisition

resource.variantTitle

SuperstitionThe mammoth book of superstition, from rabbit's feet to Friday the 13th

Creator