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Elves in Anglo-Saxon England

By Alaric Hall

Elves in Anglo-Saxon England

By Alaric Hall

0 - Default Title
Description
Anglo-Saxon elves [Old English 'ælfe'] are one of the best attested non-Christian beliefs in early medieval Europe, but current interpretations of the evidence derive directly from outdated nineteenth- and early twentieth-century scholarship. Integrating linguistic and textual approaches into an anthropologically-inspired framework, this book reassesses the full range of evidence. It traces continuities and changes in medieval non-Christian beliefs with a new degree of reliability, from pre-conversion times to the eleventh century and beyond, and uses comparative material from medieval Ireland and Scandinavia to argue for a dynamic relationship between beliefs and society. In particular, it interprets the cultural significance of elves as a cause of illness in medical texts, and provides new insights into the much-discussed Scandinavian magic of 'seidr'. Elf-beliefs, moreover, were connected with Anglo-Saxon constructions of sex and gender; their changing nature provides a rare insight into a fascinating area of early medieval European culture.
Shortlisted for the Katharine Briggs Folklore Award 2007
ALARIC HALL is a fellow of the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies.
Product details
Edition:
illustrated
Number of Pages:
240
Release Date:
2007-03-20
Publication Date:
2007-03-15
Publisher:
Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Languages:
Original: English
ISBN10:
1843832941
ISBN13:
9781843832942
GPSR Manufacturer Reference:
[email protected]
Weight:
529 g
Height:
161 cm
Width:
240 cm
Thickness:
18 cm
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