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Possessed

Name: Possessed
Price: 42.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780875802732

✍️ Worobec, Christine D

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Step into a fascinating historical inquiry with Christine D. Worobec's groundbreaking study of Russian 'klikushi,' women believed to be demonically possessed. These 'shriekers,' known for their dramatic fits and outbursts, became central figures in a complex cultural dialogue across centuries. Worobec meticulously explores how these women were perceived—from sympathetic care by peasants to analytical scrutiny by authorities—and the pivotal, often conflicted, role of the Russian Orthodox Church. This work delves into the tension between traditional spiritual explanations and emerging scientific thought, predominantly during Russia's tumultuous 19th and early 20th-century modernization.

Worobec, Christine D

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Witchcraft & Wicca

Praise for this book

“Worobec is at her best as a storyteller.... Her scholarship is marked by a meticulous reading of sources and a sensitivity to and respect for the people she studies.”

— Russian Review

“Exceptionally well-researched and exhaustive.”

— Association for Women in Slavic Studies

🏛 Northern Illinois University Press 📅 2001 📖 303 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9780875802732

Fun Fact

Worobec's 'Possessed' is a seminal work, offering an unparalleled deep dive into a unique and often misunderstood aspect of Russian history. Its strength lies in its meticulous research across diverse sources, providing a nuanced examination of how 'klikushi' were perceived and treated. While not a sensationalist account, it will richly reward those seeking rigorous academic scholarship on women's experiences, religious history, and the clash of tradition and modernity. Readers expecting a purely occult narrative might be disappointed, but for serious students of cultural history, this book is definitive.

📝 Description: Possessed

Women known as "shriekers" howled, screamed, convulsed, and tore their clothes. Believed to be possessed by devils, these central figures in a cultural drama known as klikushestvo stirred various reactions among those who encountered them. While sympathetic monks and peasants tended to shelter the shriekers, others analyzed, diagnosed, and objectified them. The Russian Orthodox Church played an important role, for, while moving toward a scientific explanation for the behavior of these women, it was reluctant to abandon the ideas of possession and miraculous exorcism. Possessed is the first book to examine the phenomenon of demon possession in Russia. Drawing upon a wide range of sources--religious, psychiatric, ethnographic, and literary--Worobec looks at klikushestvo over a broad span of time but focuses mainly on the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when all of Russian society felt the pressure of modernization. Worobec's definitive study is as much an account of perceptions of the klikushi as an analysis of the women themselves, for, even as modern rationalism began to affect religious belief in Russia, explanations of the shriekers continued to differ widely. Examining various cultural constructions, Worobec shows how these interpretations were rooted in theology, village life and politics, and gender relationships. Engaging broad issues in Russian history, women's history, and popular religious culture, Possessed will interest readers across several disciplines. Its insights into the cultural phenomenon of possession among Russian peasant women carry rich implications for understanding the ways in which a complex society treated women believed to be out of control.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Worobec delivers a rigorous academic inquiry that may feel dense to casual readers interested only in sensational tales of possession. This book is not for those seeking quick thrills or supernatural validation; it is a scholarly dissection of cultural attitudes rather than a narrative of hauntings. Historians, anthropologists, and theologians will find value in its meticulous archival work. However, general audiences expecting a light read or a focus on modern occult practices should look elsewhere. The text demands patience and an interest in sociological frameworks over dramatic storytelling, making it best suited for academic circles or serious students of Eastern European history.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the complex interplay between folklore, religion, and social history will find this study deeply rewarding. Christine D. Worobec offers a nuanced look at how Russian society negotiated the boundary between the sacred and the pathological. Those interested in gender studies or the history of medicine will appreciate the detailed analysis of how women's bodies became sites for cultural conflict. It is essential for anyone seeking to understand how pre-modern beliefs persisted and transformed under the pressure of scientific scrutiny, providing a rich, empathetic portrait of marginalized voices often overlooked in official histories.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're captivated by the intersection of spirituality, gender, and history, or seek to understand the unique cultural tapestry of Imperial Russia, this book is for you. Scholars of women's studies, religious history, and social anthropology will find it an indispensable resource.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Worobec delivers a rigorous academic inquiry that may feel dense to casual readers interested only in sensational tales of possession. This book is not for those seeking quick thrills or supernatural validation; it is a scholarly dissection of cultural attitudes rather than a narrative of hauntings. Historians, anthropologists, and theologians will find value in its meticulous archival work. However, general audiences expecting a light read or a focus on modern occult practices should look elsewhere. The text demands patience and an interest in sociological frameworks over dramatic storytelling, making it best suited for academic circles or serious students of Eastern European history.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While it touches on religious belief, 'Possessed' is primarily a historical and cultural analysis, drawing from a wide array of sources including psychiatric, ethnographic, and literary perspectives, not solely theological doctrine.

'Klikushi' is the term used for the Russian women who experienced episodes of convulsive fits, screaming, and other dramatic behaviors, which were widely interpreted as signs of demonic possession within their society.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

The Klikushestvo Phenomenon

This book provides the first comprehensive look at 'klikushestvo' in Russia, detailing the dramatic behaviors of the 'shriekers' and the widespread belief in their demonic affliction. Worobec traces the origins and manifestations of this unique form of possession, revealing how it captivated and perplexed Russian society over a broad historical period, with particular focus on the Imperial era.

Societal & Religious Interpretations

Worobec masterfully unpacks the diverse reactions to the possessed women, from the compassion shown by local communities and certain monastic orders to the more clinical and objectifying approaches of burgeoning medical and state institutions. The study highlights how these varied interpretations shaped the lives of the 'klikushi' and the societal understanding of their condition.

Modernity vs. Tradition

The work vividly portrays the Russian Orthodox Church's intricate position as Russia modernized. While the Church contemplated more scientific explanations for the 'shriekers'' behavior, it simultaneously struggled to relinquish entrenched beliefs in demonic possession and the efficacy of miraculous exorcisms. This tension reflects broader cultural shifts in a society grappling with new ideas.

📜 Historical context

Worobec's study situates 'klikushestvo' firmly within the broader context of Russia's dramatic modernization during the 19th and early 20th centuries. This period saw immense social upheaval, challenging traditional beliefs and institutions like the Orthodox Church, creating a unique environment where ancient superstitions clashed with nascent scientific rationalism in interpreting inexplicable phenomena.

📚 Glossary

Klikushestvo
Klikushi
Exorcism

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might society today interpret or medicalize behaviors that were once attributed to demonic possession in historical contexts?
Reflect on how powerful institutions, such as religious organizations or governments, influence the definition and treatment of unusual human experiences.
Consider the ways historical narratives about women's experiences with 'possession' can inform our understanding of gender, power, and vulnerability across different eras.