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Lurkers at the Threshold: 100 Ghost Tales from German Folklore
Dead, but not gone!
Most cultures have tales about the souls of the dead lingering on. The same was true of Germans of past centuries, who believed that ghosts haunted every corner of this world - from remote swamps and forests, to crumbling ruins and city alleys, to the houses of the living themselves.
This book presents a collection of 100 German folk tales featuring ghosts, each translated into English and given extensive translation notes and commentary to provide additional context.
The many shapes of ghosts - from human, to animal, to protean horrorsExistence as a ghost - what causes it, and how it can be escapedThe use of ghost tales in propagandaRomancing the dead - knowingly or notBest practices in ectoplasmic waste disposal
Most cultures have tales about the souls of the dead lingering on. The same was true of Germans of past centuries, who believed that ghosts haunted every corner of this world - from remote swamps and forests, to crumbling ruins and city alleys, to the houses of the living themselves.
This book presents a collection of 100 German folk tales featuring ghosts, each translated into English and given extensive translation notes and commentary to provide additional context.
The many shapes of ghosts - from human, to animal, to protean horrorsExistence as a ghost - what causes it, and how it can be escapedThe use of ghost tales in propagandaRomancing the dead - knowingly or notBest practices in ectoplasmic waste disposal
748 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 11, 2022
I am a big fan of this series, and I really hope it will go on to many, many more volumes. I have never really been interested in ghost stories before, but I know that Jürgen Hubert has an eye for cherry-picking the best, weirdest, most interesting legends from the vast ocean of German folklore. And he did. If you are a folk horror enthusiast, this book is an endless treasure trove for you (even though I am not, it still sparked a whole lot of cool ideas). There were several stories that amused, enchanted, or spooked me. And it's not just about the stories: the book comes with a whole lot of extra information! Footnotes, translation notes, comments, maps, sources, and pretty much everything a researcher can wish for.
Can't wait for the next book!
Can't wait for the next book!
March 24, 2022
I was an alpha reader on the book and it really has come along. The first of a series, Jürgen has translated German folklore for the Anglophone world, and given analysis and context for those of us not born in Germany or familiar with the ins and outs and tropes of German folklore. Brief yet insightful, the additional resource like a map of tales (and you should see the digital version) are amazing. Check it out, folklorists and fairy tale lovers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews