Encyclopedia of Superstitions

by M.A. Radford and Edwin Radford

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0091252016
• ISBN13: 9780091252014
• Release Date: October 1980
• Publisher: Arrow (A Division of Random House Group)
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A classic, readable yet serious book on this topic

This is an excellent, and a classic book on the topic of superstitions. Also, this was probably the first ever "encyclopedia"/"dictionary" of superstitions written -- before everyone and their brother created one. I own four "dictionaries" and three "encyclopedias" of superstitions, along with numerous other books on the topic and this one ranks near the top of the pile. Each entry has a few superstitions in italics along with more detail in an article below. What puts this book above most others is it's readability -- many beliefs are illustrated with stories, often personal ones. This book isn't as extensive as some available today, and the book was revised and expanded in 1961. (That version is good as well, and both seem to contain things which the other does not, this aside they both read differently and make for a different experience.) A classic for folklorists and recommended really for anyone interested in this topic as a top choice.

Did you know...

...that Shetland fishermen considered "persons deformed at birth" good luck because they were considered God's poor and that if they had good luck they gave the person some of their catch? ...Rubys prevent all evil? ...that if a burgular has coal in his pocket he'll be able to evade capture? I have the version of this book that was published in 1949--found it in the giveaway pile at my local library. This book is fantastic for dipping, fun or for ghost stories. We had an electrical outing, and I read snippets by candlelight to my family. My little brother (who was 15) was terrified and made me stop. At this price you can't say no to this book. It's fun and pretty scary at the same time. Highly recommended.

Kind of fun and kind of creepy too.

This is a fascinating little book, it works like a dictionary, find the word you hope to look up and it will tell you of the the historical powers, magic and superstitions behind that object. All the ideas are reseached from ancient folklores around the globe but Europe in the main. You wiil discover the luck, wisdom and power of objects as diverse as besoms (brooms), juniper berries or socks and stockings. Fun indeed, but the historical angle is quite spine shuddering at times.

Great read, doubles as a horror writer's resource

This is a fun, rather small book (in respect to superstitions in general, this could have been a mammoth of a book) that includes various bizarre and funny superstitions both old and current. Some are given instances when the superstition held true. For example, apparently it is unlucky for a three cigarettes to be lit off the same match. Three men, after doing this, one remarked "One of us will die by the end of the year" in jest, and then died three days later of a monkey bite (that last line made me howl...a monkey bite, of all things). Also, if you're a horror writer there's plenty of material here to help you base a story around. Four stars only because I wish it were longer, but it's a bargain and if you're into this kind of thing highly recommended. Very easy and fun to read.