The Book of Were-WolvesBeing an Account of a Terrible SuperstitionFirst published in 1865, this fascinating classic by Reverend
Sabine Baring-Gould remains one of the most influential studies of
lycanthropy ever written. Blending folklore, history, anthropology, and true crime, Baring-Gould investigates the werewolf myth from its earliest appearances in ancient legend to chilling cases documented in medieval and modern Europe.
With a scholar’s rigor and a storyteller’s flair, he explores:
- Ancient myths and Norse sagas of shape-shifters
- Witch trials and confessions of “wolf-men”
- Superstitions surrounding animal transformation
- Grisly historical accounts of murderers believed to be werewolves
Part gothic horror, part anthropological study,
The Book of Were-Wolves is not merely about monsters of the imagination—it is also a disturbing examination of the darker corners of human nature. A must-read for lovers of folklore, occult history, and the macabre, this timeless work still casts its eerie shadow more than 150 years after its first publication.
Sabine Baring-Gould (1834–1924) was an English Anglican priest, prolific author, folklorist, antiquarian, and hymn writer best known for penning
Onward, Christian Soldiers. A man of boundless curiosity, he published over 1,200 works ranging from novels and theology to historical studies and collections of ghost stories. Deeply interested in the legends and traditions of Britain and Europe, Baring-Gould became one of the Victorian era’s foremost collectors of folklore, preserving tales of saints, supernatural beings, and rural customs.
The Book of Were-Wolves remains his most famous exploration of the darker side of human belief and imagination.