🩸 Horror Fiction

The Werewolf - In Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal

✍️ Montague Summers
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$19.99
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A 1933 study by Montague Summers on southern European werewolf traditions.

Summers investigates the persistence of lycanthropy in regions where sunlight is fierce. He connects ancient Arcadian myths with contemporary peasant reports from Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. The text treats these figures as real entities within their cultural context. Stewart’s essay complements this by exploring the superstition's roots. The work relies on chronicle and folk report rather than modern psychology.

Key Themes
vrykolakas lupo mannaro hombre lobo
Literary Context

This volume derives from Montague Summers' 1933 study, published by Obscure Press in 2011. It reflects the early twentieth-century interest in European folklore and the work of an English clergyman who believed witches and werewolves were real.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Stewart Sterling · Dion Fortune · Gothic folklore studies
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Obscure Press 📅 2011 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781447406112

📝 Description: The Werewolf - In Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal

Montague Summers, an English clergyman who treated lycanthropy as literal reality, surveys southern European beast lore in this volume. The text examines the Greek vrykolakas, Italian lupo mannaro, and Iberian hombre lobo and lobisomem. It draws upon classical authors, historical chronicles, and living peasant traditions to trace these beliefs from ancient Arcadia through Spanish and Portuguese villages. The work highlights the blurred line between werewolf and vampire figures in southern tradition. Summers utilizes source material ranging from classical literature to local folklore reports to establish his arguments regarding revenant belief. The volume also includes Caroline Taylor Stewart’s essay, The Origin of the Werewolf Superstition, which is appended in full to provide context on the deeper origins of these fears. This book suits readers interested in historical accounts of supernatural beliefs and the intersection of folk tradition with classical history. It may not appeal to those seeking modern fictional narratives or scientific debunking of myth, as Summers approaches his subjects with earnest conviction rather than skeptical distance.

💎 Our verdict on The Werewolf - In Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Summers surveys southern European beast lore with an unwavering commitment to treating lycanthropy as literal reality. The work effectively traces beliefs from ancient Arcadia through Spanish and Portuguese villages, utilizing a wide range of sources from classical literature to local folklore. It particularly excels in highlighting the complex relationship between werewolf and vampire figures in these regions. While not suitable for those seeking modern fictional narratives or skeptical analysis, it serves as a vital resource for enthusiasts of historical demonology. The inclusion of Stewart’s essay further enriches the understanding of these fears, making it a compelling study for those interested in the serious academic exploration of gothic and supernatural traditions.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This volume is essential for readers who appreciate historical perspectives on supernatural beliefs and the intersection of folk tradition with classical history. It offers a unique window into how lycanthropy was perceived in Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal during the period of study. By treating these figures as real entities within their cultural context, the text provides an immersive look at the blurred lines between werewolf and vampire lore in southern traditions. Readers interested in the roots of superstition and the earnest conviction of early twentieth-century occult scholars will find value in its rigorous examination of chronicles and folk reports rather than modern psychological debunking.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Summers surveys southern European beast lore with an unwavering commitment to treating lycanthropy as literal reality. The work effectively traces beliefs from ancient Arcadia through Spanish and Portuguese villages, utilizing a wide range of sources from classical literature to local folklore. It particularly excels in highlighting the complex relationship between werewolf and vampire figures in these regions. While not suitable for those seeking modern fictional narratives or skeptical analysis, it serves as a vital resource for enthusiasts of historical demonology. The inclusion of Stewart’s essay further enriches the understanding of these fears, making it a compelling study for those interested in the serious academic exploration of gothic and supernatural traditions.

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