The Wordsworth Book of Divining the Future (Wordsworth Reference) by Eva Shaw

by Eva Shaw

This work is a comprehensive A-Z encyclopedia of the techniques, methods and people involved in predicting the future from Roman augurs to Druid dendromancy, from the ancient I Ching to Nostradamus. Prediction techniques such as rhapsodomancy (sacred books), Ming sticks used in ancient China and still in use today, tasseography (reading of tea leaves) and belomancy (arrows), are fully explained as are their historical backgrounds. The book is illustrated throughout with line drawings and is indexed for ease of use.

Paperback

First published April 1, 1998

About the author

EVA SHAW is one of the country’s premier ghostwriters and is the author of more than award-winning 100 books. Novels with her byline include these faith-based Amazon best sellers: Doubts of the Heart and Games of the Heart. Nonfiction best sellers include: Ghostwriting: The Complete Guide, Writeriffic 2: Creativity Training for Writers, Write Your Book in 20 Minutes, Garden Therapy: Nature’s Health Plan, and What to Do When A Loved One Dies. Visit Amazon, Good Reads and other sellers for reviews.

Eva teaches five university-level writing courses available online at 4000 colleges and universities worldwide. A breast cancer survivor, she's an active volunteer with causes affecting women and children and with her church. She loves to travel, read, shop, garden, play the banjolele and paint, focusing on folk art and California landscapes. When not at her desk, she’s probably enjoying the beach village of Carlsbad, California with Coco Rose, a rambunctious 2-year-old Welsh terrier.

Reviews

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a treasure to me as a short story writer: a list of what various methods of divination are called, and how they were performed, from, as the cover says, astrology to zoomancy.

It's an interesting reading experience, but again, I use it mostly as a reference for colour in short stories, or as a way to trigger some ideas or use some "typical" metaphors or omens in a tale.