Mysteries of the Werewolf

Shapeshifting, Magic, and Protection

By: Claude Lecouteux

Narrated by: Micah Hanks

• Examines werewolf tales and stories from early Greece, Scandinavia, France, Germany, Eastern Europe, China, and Japan, as well as legends of other shape-shifting creatures such as were-tigers, were-jackals, and were-caribou
• Looks at the various ways people become werewolves, including pacts with the devil, magic, and spells, and explores ways to identify, escape, and do away with werewolves
• Includes the trial records from medieval Europe for individuals who were tried on suspicion of being werewolves and the personal records of people whose spouses could shape-shift into wolves

An animal both mythical and real, a terrifying predator and the villain in many a fairy tale, the wolf has haunted the human imagination since prehistoric times. Even more disturbing is the possibility that some individuals can change into wolves. These werewolves, or lycanthropes, are able to divest themselves of their human nature and transform into enemies that are all the more dangerous as no one knows who they are. Means of protecting oneself from this beast have been a concern for people since Classical Antiquity, and werewolf legends offer both fascinating tales of horror as well as advice for thwarting these creatures or breaking the werewolf curse.

In this exploration of werewolf folktales, legends, and historical accounts, Claude Lecouteux examines werewolf beliefs and stories from early Greece to the post-medieval age, including the beliefs of the Norse and tales from France, Germany, Eastern Europe, China, and Japan. The author includes the trial records from medieval Europe for individuals who were tried on suspicion of being werewolves and the personal records of people whose spouses could shape-shift into wolves. He investigates the nature of the werewolf, how it can act as the double or lead to out-of-body experiences, and its counterparts in other parts of the world such as were-tigers, were-jackals, and even were-caribou in the Inuit regions of North America. Lecouteux also looks at the various ways people become werewolves, including pacts with the devil and spells, and explores ways to identify, escape, and do away with werewolves. Sharing werewolf mysteries from around the world, Lecouteux shows that by studying the legends of the werewolf we also gain insight into the psyche and ancient imagination of humanity.

©2008 Éditions Corti, English translation copyright © 2021 by Inner Traditions International. All Rights Reserved. (P)2021 Inner Traditions Audio. All Rights Reserved.

Critic reviews

“Mysteries of the Werewolf contains an incredibly comprehensive collection of texts about the mythology of the werewolf. Claude Lecouteux manages to bring to light many of the ner nuances in the depiction of this mythical being throughout a variety of countries and cultures. He emphasizes the evolution of the lore throughout history, drawing upon several lesser known documents and processes.” (Ion Talos, former professor of popular literature at the University of Cologne and author of Petit dictionnaire de mythologie populaire roumaine)

“The concept of the werewolf has frightened humankind for millennia, as documented throughout history via legends and court trials. In his new book, Claude Lecouteux provides a vivid presentation of this fascinating and mysterious beast. Highly recommended!” (Bengt af Klintberg, professor and author of The Types of the Swedish Folk Legend)

“Lecouteux is a genius. I have been gratefully following his research - which provides information I have never found in other locations - for years.” (Maja D’Aoust, Witch of the Dawn and author of Familiars in Witchcraft)

The Werewolf

The wolf is liminal figure bordering between light and shadow. On the one hand they are fierce predators who can be hazardous to those wandering about. The wolf also keeps the natural balance and puts a check on other animal populations often feeding on the aged, dying and the sick.

The werewolf is another character based on the wolf but even more terrifying. Rumors of large wolves ravaging livestock and people abound in. European folklore all across the the continent of Europe. There are many ways to transform into a werewolf. There are different were creatures in different countries.

The African nations have wear hyenas and wild cats. In China and Japan you have were tigers. Some theories behind what is called lycanthropy exist. Some think it is a delusion. Someone mentally ill or,deluded and goes around acting like a wolf. There are other who believe that during trance states the souls leaves the body and can assume an animal form. There are people who believed that they have seen others transform fully into wolves.

How does one transform into a werewolf. For starts let us throw out the full moon motif. Some of the ways people transform is by being cursed by a witch to assume the animal form,sometimes for periods up to 7 years. Others embrace this change by donning a wolf skin or a pelt of a wolf and that will transform them into a wolf. Some believe that a sorcerer has several animal shapes at their disposable.

In certain European countries werewolves are synonymous with witches. Witches too can shapeshift into different animal forms and travel through the night. In Norse mythology part of the soul is an animal soul and it has different forms. People being transformed into wolves or other animals are found all over the world.

Yet not all werewolves are bad some like the benadanti help the people by retrieving grain from Hell so the people can consume it. Bands of wolf warriors used to roam the forests of Europe dedicated to Odin they wore wolf skins and acted a lot like wolves and legend has it they turned to wolves.

The book yields over many stories from folklore illustrating the points above . However , deeper analysis would have been nice.

Great book, strange narrator.

The book itself is a great resource, but the narrator sounds like an AI or a bot.