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Early Modern Supernatural - (Praeger the Early Modern World) Annotated by Jane Davidson (Hardcover)
About this item
Highlights
- Devils, ghosts, poltergeists, werewolves, and witches are all covered in this book about the "dark side" of supernatural beliefs in early modern Europe, tapping period literature, folklore, art, and scholarly writings in its investigation.
- About the Author: Jane P. Davidson, PhD, is professor of history of art at the University of Nevada, Reno, NV.
- 256 Pages
- History, World
- Series Name: Praeger the Early Modern World
Description
About the Book
Devils, ghosts, poltergeists, werewolves, and witches are all covered in this book about the 'dark side' of supernatural beliefs in early modern Europe, tapping period literature, folklore, art, and scholarly writings in its investigation.
The dark side of early modern European culture could be deemed equal in historical significance to Christianity based on the hundreds of books that were printed about the topic between 1400 and 1700. Famous writers and artists like William Shakespeare and Albrecht Dürer depicted the dark side in their work, and some of the first printed books in Europe were about witches. The pervasive representation of these monsters and apparitions in period literature, folklore, and art clearly reflects their power to inspire fear and superstition, but also demonstrates how integral they were to early modern European culture.
This unique book addresses topics of the supernatural within the context of the early modern period in Europe, covering "mythical" entities such as devils, witches, ghosts, poltergeists, and werewolves in detail and examining how they fit in with the emerging new scientific method of the time. This unique combination of cultural studies for the period is ideal for undergraduate students and general readers.
- Illustrations from rare books on witchcraft and demonology
- An annotated bibliography of primary and secondary sources
- Appendices address early modern supernatural art and artists who depicted the dark side as well as important historical individuals
Book Synopsis
Devils, ghosts, poltergeists, werewolves, and witches are all covered in this book about the "dark side" of supernatural beliefs in early modern Europe, tapping period literature, folklore, art, and scholarly writings in its investigation.
The dark side of early modern European culture could be deemed equal in historical significance to Christianity based on the hundreds of books that were printed about the topic between 1400 and 1700. Famous writers and artists like William Shakespeare and Albrecht Dürer depicted the dark side in their work, and some of the first printed books in Europe were about witches. The pervasive representation of these monsters and apparitions in period literature, folklore, and art clearly reflects their power to inspire fear and superstition, but also demonstrates how integral they were to early modern European culture. This unique book addresses topics of the supernatural within the context of the early modern period in Europe, covering "mythical" entities such as devils, witches, ghosts, poltergeists, and werewolves in detail and examining how they fit in with the emerging new scientific method of the time. This unique combination of cultural studies for the period is ideal for undergraduate students and general readers.About the Author
Jane P. Davidson, PhD, is professor of history of art at the University of Nevada, Reno, NV. Her published works include A History of Paleontology Illustration; The Bone Sharp: The Life of Edward Drinker Cope; The Witch in Northern European Art 1470-1750; and David Teniers the Younger.