Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder: The Venomous Maiden and Other Stories of the Supernatural

by Claude Lecouteux, Corinne Lecouteux

A collection of tales from the Middle Ages focused on otherworldly powers, magical animals, miracles, demonic apparitions, and supernatural events

• Offers commentary for each story, revealing its historical context, cultural and esoteric associations, and hidden pagan beliefs

• Explores how the tales transformed over the ages and their origins in Classical Antiquity, the Middle East, and India

• Includes stories never-before-translated from their original Latin and many purposely left in obscurity due to scandalous depictions of popes and other notables

The Middle Ages witnessed the blossoming of oral traditions whose echoes can still be found in many legends, fables, and tales today.

In this collection of medieval tales of witchcraft, wonder, and the supernatural, Claude and Corinne Lecouteux explain how many of these stories arose in Classical Antiquity while some made their way into Dark Ages Europe from the Middle East and India. Offering commentary for each tale, the authors place them in historical context and analyze their cultural and esoteric associations. They include stories never- before-translated from their original Latin or demotic versions and show how, unlike the well-known fairy tales made popular by the Brothers Grimm, many stories were purposely left in obscurity because they presented scandalous depictions of popes and other notables. Additionally, for many of the tales, the authors scrupulously peel back the Christian veneer to show how the stories were instrumental in assuring the survival of age-old pagan beliefs across the centuries.

These beliefs are explored through tales of animals with magical powers and the ability to converse with humans, including the tale of the Grateful Lion made famous through Aesop’s fables; stories of individuals with supernatural or otherworldly powers, like the Venomous Maiden who poisons all men who have relations with her; legends of miracles and wondrous things that violate the laws of nature, such as people returning from the dead to help a descendant; and stories of witchcraft, magic, and demonic apparitions, including the pope who was a disguised demon. The authors also explore tales of supernatural spouses and illicit love affairs, wisdom teachings and parables of fools, and heroic legends.

Genres: Fairy Tales, Witches, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

Published October 12, 2021

About the author

Docteur en études germaniques, docteur en lettres, est médiéviste. Il a occupé la chaire de Langues, Littératures et civilisations germaniques à l'université de Caen de 1981 à 1992 avant d'être appelé à la Sorbonne (Paris IV) pour occuper celle de Littérature et Civilisation allemande du Moyen Âge jusqu'en octobre 2007. Ses axes de recherches sont: Les êtres de la mythologie populaire, Les croyances touchant aux morts et à la mort, Les mythes, contes et légendes, La magie
Ses travaux lui ont valu de recevoir le Prix Strasbourg en 1982, un prix de l’Académie française la même année, d'être fait Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes académiques en 1995 et Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres en 2006. Jusqu'en décembre 2010, il dirige la revue La grande Oreille, arts de l’oralité et collabore à plusieurs revues sur le Moyen Âge.

Reviews

[Elentarri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of folktales, legends, epics, romances, and lays of witchcraft, miracles, magic, and the supernatural from the Middle Ages. It's a bit like reading Grimms' Fairy-tales, but more elaborate. Each story is accompanied by a short paragraph explaining how many of these stories arose in Classical Antiquity while some made their way into medieval Europe from the Middle East and India. The stories are grouped thematically, e.g. animal tales; deviltry, spells & magic; the supernatural spouse; heroic legends etc. I found it fairly interesting to see the pagan roots concealed under all the Christian veneer. I particularly enjoyed the extended version of "Weyland the Smith" that is included in this book. I would, however, have liked more analysis of the tales themselves. Interesting and entertaining.

[Jassmine · Rating 1 out of 5]

So let's sum it up:
1. This book really has nothing to do with witchcraft. Most of the stories have some magical element, but... that isn't unusual for medieval literature. If you came here expecting witches run in the opposite direction there are none!
2. The narration is absolutely horrible.
3. One of the stories gets flagged as misogynistic, which is hilarious, because... about 70% of them are misogynistic or have some other problematic content. This is fine, but the edition doesn't try to comment on this in any way - except that one exception which makes it even weirder.
4. The chosen stories aren't that great. There were a few that I enjoyed, but there is so many amazing mediaeval bonkers stories and... those weren't there! I mean, I could have do without witches if the stories were entertaining, but... didn't really happen.

I don't really have anything positive to say about this one. I really should have DNFed this one, but... I guess crying about it now is useless. I'm not sure why I did this to myself...

[Steve Cran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This work by scholar Claude Lecouteux examines old fairy tales and myths. First the author tells the tale to the reader and the gives over an analysis of its content and origins. Many of these tales started off as Ancient Greek or Roman myths. Others started out in Norse mythology bu were morphed over time and different elements were added or removed . Character names changed as did events.

The fist section deals with people being turned Into animals as a curse from an evil witch. The second part deal with humans in animal form who are wronged and then seek redress. The dolphin nights captures this well. A sailor hurts a dolphins then is ferried na way to help the dolphins heal.The third section deals with devil stuff and dark spells. The Love Spell deals with Charlemaign and his dead wife. Due to magic he cannot part from her. He embalms her and sleeps with her. It takes a bishop to break spell. The tales fall under different heading and it is worth a look if you are studying European literature.

I am not sure if the audible render a full version of the book . Parts of it seems short along with some of the explanations. But Claude Lecouteux is a scholar worth reading.

[Greis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Medieval folks was wild.