Book Curses
Step into the fascinating world of 'Book Curses,' a captivating exploration of the historical and humorous tradition of protecting books through written imprecations. From fearsome warnings etched in stone in the ancient Near East to clever jests scrawled in personal libraries, this volume unearths the diverse ways owners have sought to defend their texts. Discover how these unique inscriptions reveal humanity's enduring passion for books, offering both entertainment and profound insight into the evolving relationship between readers and their most prized possessions.
Praise for this book
“Baker does a fine job of examining the history of the book curse with plenty of examples from the extremes of eternal damnation to humorous deterrents.”
📝 Description: Book Curses
📑 What's inside
- Introduction 1
- Book Curses from Antiquity 13
- The curse of Yahdun-Lim's temple dedication 16
- The curse of Hammurabi's law stele 18
- The curse of a Sefire treaty stele 19
- The curse of Shalmaneser iv's commemoration stele 20
- The curse of Sargon ii's memorial stele 21
- A curse from the library of Ashurbanipal 22
- Early Medieval Book Curses 25
- The curse of Bishop Ælfsiga's will 28
- The curse of King Æthelred's land grant 29
- Constantius' book curse 30
- The Latin and Old English book curse of
- Bishop Leofric of Exeter 31
- A book curse threatening hell's possession 33
- A book curse blessing scribes and pushing thieves into hell 34
- A book curse comparing Christ's body to a manuscript page 35
- High Medieval Book Curses 37
- A book curse repeated every year by candlelight 39
- Abbot Simon's book curse 40
- The book curse of the Abbey of Saints Mary & Nicholas, Arnstein 41
- The book curse of Santa Maria della Colomba 42
- The book curse of the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Quentin 43
- The year-long book curse of Rochester Priory 45
- The book curse of Robert of Aldsworth 46
- The book curse of the Ancrene Wisse 47
- The curse of the Abbey of St Mary the Virgin, Robertsbridge 48
- A simple book curse threatening hanging 49
- A book curse praising scribes and damning thieves 50
- The book curse of Newark Priory 51
- Late Medieval Book Curses 53
- A book curse in a manuscript containing volvelles 55
- John Wryghtson's book curse 56
- The Gonville & Caius College book curse 57
- A book curse threatening illness in this life and eternal damnation in the next 59
- The book curse of William Wymondham 61
- Pookefart's book curse 62
- William Bentley's book curse invoking the Virgin Mary 63
- A book curse inscribed in a chained book 64
- A book curse that threatens hanging in two ways 66
- John Hancok's book curse 67
- Eleanor Worcester's book curse 68
- John Twychener's book curse 69
- A missing book curse 70
- John Audelay's book curse 71
- A book curse invoking God, Mary and all the saints 73
- A book curse in a manuscript of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde 74
- Agnes Lyell's book curse 75
- The two book curses of St Aldate's Church, Gloucester 76
- The two book curses of St Albans students attending Gloucester College, Oxford 77
- A book curse threatening different punishments for thieving men and thieving women 78
- The book curse of Petrus Leo Ortinus 79
- A book curse in a music book for royalty 80
- Dorothy Helbarton's book curse 81
- William Hok's skin-rotting book curse 82
- Hugh of Wollaston's book curse 83
- Early Modern Book Curses 85
- An early modern book curse written in a late medieval manuscript 87
- The University of Cambridge book curse 88
- A Scots book curse written in an incunabulum 89
Showing the first 60 entries.
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Book Lovers and those fascinated by the quirky history of library science will find immense joy in this delightful exploration. Eleanor Baker unearths a charming tradition of safeguarding texts through witty warnings and fearsome maledictions. It offers entertainment for anyone who cherishes their literary treasures, revealing how owners have historically defended their collections with creativity and humor. This book is perfect for bibliophiles seeking a lighthearted yet insightful look at the human connection to books. You will appreciate the profound insights into reader-owner relationships while enjoying the unique inscriptions that serve as both protection and playful expression. It is a must-read for those who view their libraries as living, breathing entities deserving of spirited defense.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
This engaging volume provides a fascinating window into the humorous side of bibliographic history. While it successfully entertains with ancient Near Eastern stone warnings and personal library jests, it may not suit readers seeking rigorous academic analysis or serious theological treatises on the efficacy of curses. The tone is light and illustrative rather than scholarly or critical. It is best appreciated as a collection of curiosities for casual readers and book lovers who enjoy whimsical historical anecdotes. Those looking for deep textual criticism or extensive primary source documentation in translation may find the scope too broad or superficial. However, for its intended audience, it delivers exactly what is promised: a witty and warm celebration of book protection traditions.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
Are you a bibliophile, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about the quirky ways people have protected their prized possessions? This book is for anyone who cherishes books and wishes to explore the magical, humorous, and sometimes terrifying, lengths owners went to preserve them.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Historical Book Protection
Delve into the rich lineage of textual guardianship, tracing the evolution of book curses from antiquity to the advent of print. This book meticulously documents how different cultures and eras employed these magical and practical deterrents, highlighting their vital role in preserving knowledge and preventing loss in a time when books were precious, hand-crafted artifacts.
The Value of Texts
Explore the deep emotional and intellectual connection people have always had with their books. Through a collection of fervent warnings and playful threats, the author illustrates the profound reverence and possessiveness that inspired these curses, offering a unique window into how much these physical objects and the knowledge they contained were cherished across centuries.
Humor and Superstition
Uncover the blend of genuine fear and delightful wit embedded within these historical admonitions. The book showcases how curses ranged from dire threats of eternal damnation to lighthearted, imaginative punishments, demonstrating the diverse human impulses behind their creation and providing an entertaining, yet insightful, look at past beliefs and societal norms.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Malediction
- Emblazoned
- Scribbled
📔 Questions to reflect on
- Consider a prized book you own. What kind of curse, humorous or serious, would you inscribe within its pages to protect it from harm or theft?
- Reflect on the idea of 'ownership' when it comes to books. How do book curses illuminate the historical and emotional dimensions of this concept?
- If you could create a modern-day 'book curse' for digital media (e.g., e-books, streaming services), what form would it take, and what would it threaten?
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