The Possession of Loudun

Needed this for my research. The print is clean and easy on the eyes for long sessions. Deserves a place on any esoteric bookshelf.

Not my usual area but wanted to branch out. The ideas are old but land with surprising force today. I'd have loved an index, but that's on the original text. Recommended with reservations.

My third book from this store and this one might be the best. The material is presented clearly and the structure makes it easy to revisit key passages. The font runs small in the appendices.

I've read excerpts online before, but having the full text is different. You can tell why this work has endured. Plenty of passages worth underlining; my copy is already full of margin notes.

Came across this title in a footnote and had to track it down. The ideas are old but land with surprising force today. A few pages arrived with light corner wear, though nothing serious. Solid, if not essential.

This edition finally does the material justice. It connects ideas I'd only seen treated separately elsewhere. One of my better finds this year.

Added this to my reference shelf. Some chapters demand a slow, careful read, and that's exactly the point. Challenging in places, but never needlessly obscure. My only quibble is the cover feels thinner than expected.

De Certeau delivers a meticulous reconstruction of the Loudun affair, exposing how demonic convulsions mirrored broader societal anxieties. The text is intellectually rigorous, demanding patience from readers who prefer accessible storytelling over dense theoretical analysis. It does not suit those seeking supernatural horror or simple historical chronicles; instead, it requires engagement with complex arguments about power and rationality. While some may find the academic tone dry, its contribution to understanding the shift toward Enlightenment thinking is significant. Readers must be prepared for a scholarly examination of cultural transformation rather than a narrative-driven account of possession.