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Elves in Anglo-Saxon England
By Alaric Hall
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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non-Christian beliefs in early medieval Europe, but current interpretations of the evidence derive directly from outdated nineteenth- and early twentieth-century scholarship.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
Binding:
Paperback
Number of Pages:
240
Release Date:
2009-10-15
Publication Date:
2009-10-15
Publisher:
Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Languages:
Original:
English
ISBN10:
1843835096
ISBN13:
9781843835097
GPSR Manufacturer Reference:
Weight:
371 g
Height:
156 cm
Width:
234 cm
Thickness:
14 cm
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