Cassell Dictionary of Superstitions

by David Pickering

Book Overview

This acclaimed A-Z dictionary is a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to the superstitions, old and new, of the English-speaking world, complete with their origins, meanings and variant forms. It... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0304345350
• ISBN13: 9780304345359
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Cassell
• Length: 294 Pages
• Weight: 1.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Thorough

This book is so absorbing. You can sit with it for hours and never get bored. If you love superstition as much as I do, you will love this book. You won't be able to put it down and it is a great addition to your personal library!

Highly Recommended for the Amateur Folklorist

As someone with a great interest in myth, legend, and folklore, I am constantly looking for sourcebooks and reference materials on the subject. Some, of course, are better than others, and some are worse. Cassell's Dictionary of Superstitions is, I must say, one of the better ones, and I can highly recommend it. I bought this book sight-unseen and have not been disappointed. Within you will find references to a near-encyclopaedic listing of items, ideas, places, worldviews, etc. detailing the superstitions and beliefs associated with them. Most of these are written from a British perspective, but references to American beliefs are included as well. I've been able to find information in this book that I haven't been able to find on other sources and am exceptionally pleased with my choice. Highly recommended.

A fine reference book

This is a fantastic reference book of superstitions, new and old! While it would have been nice to get an explanation of the origin of these superstitions, the book is still a great read and helps to understand why some people feel and fear the way they do. As for the definition of BELT, which references to the marriage to a coloured man and caused a certain amount of discomfort of reviewers on here, yes, it's a term that is dated now but the cover sleeve of the hardback does say, and I quote: "The Cassell Dictionary of Superstitions provides a fascinating overview of an astonishing diverse range of popularity held fears and beliefs. Many are still familiar and widespread. Others now belong firmly to the past, but are intriguing nonetheless for the insights they offer into human preoccupations and taboos." The operative words being "others now belong firmly to the past" and mean they are not NEW superstitions. I believe the wording was kept in the original format to preserve the history of these superstitions. By the way, the word OMEN, which also appears in the definition of BELT, does not always mean negative, it is a phenomenon supposed to portend (predition of) good or evil. You get to pick depending on the intention!

Interesting, interesting information

This "dictionary" is packed with information. Everything in here is interesting and collaborative and it's great for looking through on rainy days.

very usefull information

i look down on who decided that because of one definition, they returned the book. I in turn cary it around where ever i go, and find it's now my favorite passages to read in my spare time. This is an amazing book i shall never forget.

excellant

it is a very good reference book