"Hausgeister! is as creepy as it is beautiful. Informative and
fascinating, I thoroughly enjoyed this little gem."
- BROM
Enter the world of ancient Germany where household spirits once held
sway and linger within the tales that we know and love today.
The household spirits of German folklore inhabit the pages of this book
just as they settled the homesteads of ancient Germany. Belief in these
creatures was ubiquitous and shaped daily life for the German people for
centuries. The legends of these creatures, first shared orally and later
written down and compiled, most famously by the Brothers Grimm, has
shifted and changed through the tides of time. Now, in the 21st century,
a team of three German creators have set themselves the mission of
bringing these creatures back from oblivious references and foggy
recollections to the international public. Domestic dragons and wild
women, Kobolds and Wichtel are portrayed through the lens of narrative
and mythological research showing their regional peculiarities within
German folktales. Each creature is brought to life as a detailed
sculpture in original size, based on historical descriptions and
beautifully photographed in Germany, in the landscape that these
creatures might once have walked. A new, spectacular approach that
combines both art and cultural studies in an innovative way.
Hausgiester!: A comprehensive guide to the household spirits of German
folklore is now available as part of Eye of Newt's specialty series,
Wool of Bat, which is focused on the preservation and promotion of
folklore and oral history from around the world. Freshly translated into
English this book presents an authentic compilation of the knowledge and
nature of the mysterious creatures that one (and perhaps still do) roam
houses, castles, and farms in German-speaking countries. Original quotes
from regional legends and guest contributions from various academic
researchers complement this extraordinary compilation, which will
delight both lovers of fairy tales and those interested in mythology and
cultural history.
