At the Borders of the Wondrous and Magical

This very interesting and erudite collection of wide-ranging articles is rich with a mix of historical and esoteric subjects. Anyone wishing to widen their knowledge and horizons on the ‘wondrous and magical’ should dive full depth into this book. I did and have benefited greatly.” * R. J. Stewart, author of The Miracle Tree and The Underworld Initiation *A fascinating, exciting, and original collection of different aspectsm of the enchanted medieval worldview by a long-established master of the subject.” * Ronald Hutton, professor at the University of Bristol and author of Queens of the Wild *“This book brings together a rich collection of essays by Claude Lecouteux about borders and thresholds—between night and day, land and sea, illusion and reality, the sacred and the profane, the worlds of the living and the dead—and the numerous beings that frequent them, including ghosts, demons, dragons, fairies, totem animals, and nature spirits. This is a book about enchantment that is itself an enchanting read.” * Christopher McIntosh, author of Occult Germany and Occult Russia *“Claude Lecouteux’s work is highly respected for its meticulous scholarship in elucidating connections deeply embedded in ancient literature, folklore, and beliefs. This book delves into many unseen aspects of Eldritch existence hidden in plain sight. It is a splendid addition to his fine corpus of work.” * Nigel Pennick, author of Fortuna and Celtic Tree Alphabets *“This book retraces the quintessential work of Claude Lecouteux, focusing on long-neglected subjects like monsters, fabulous creatures, and mysterious forces that we never know whether they are natural or magical. He has opened up a fertile breach, now being taken up by new generations of researchers, for whom Lecouteux represents not just a pioneer but a model to follow, including from a methodological point of view—starting from words, starting from texts.” * Karin Ueltschi, professor of medieval language and literature, Université de Reims, France *“As we’ve come to expect from Claude Lecouteux, At the Borders of the Wondrous and Magical is a meticulously researched and compelling work. The legends and folk beliefs he has gathered together give us a window into the ontology of the medieval mind and its understanding of the human place in the natural world. This standpoint invites us to re-examine our own relationship with the wondrous and haunted world, leading us to the foothills of the imaginal.” * Darragh Mason, author of Song of the Dark Man *“At the Borders of the Wondrous and Magical is not just an academic text; it is a captivating journey into the heart of medieval beliefs that continue to shape our understanding of the world around us.” * The Fenris Wolf Newsletter *

Claude Lecouteux is a professor emeritus of medieval literature and civilization at the Sorbonne. He is the author of numerous books on medieval beliefs and magic, including Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder, The Tradition of Household Spirits, Demons and Spirits of the Land, and Encyclopedia of Norse and Germanic Folklore, Mythology, and Magic. He lives in Paris.