ABSTRACT

Strange Histories presents a serious account of some of the most extraordinary occurrences of European and North American history and explains how they made sense to people living at the time. 

Using case studies from the Middle Ages and the early modern period, this book provides fascinating insights into the world-view of a vanished age and shows how such occurences fitted in quite naturally with the "common sense" of the time. Explanations of these phenomena, riveting and ultimately rational, encourage further reflection on what shapes our beliefs today.

What made reasonable, educated men and women behave in ways that seem utterly nonsensical to us today? This question and many more are answered in this fascinating book.

chapter 1|19 pages

INTRODUCTION: STRANGE WORLDS

chapter 2|20 pages

ANGELS ON A PINHEAD

chapter 3|16 pages

THEY HANG HORSES, DON’T THEY?

chapter 4|20 pages

THE ROAMING DEAD

chapter 6|16 pages

WEREWOLVES AND FLYING WITCHES

chapter 7|21 pages

RAPTURES AND FORBIDDEN WORDS

chapter 8|17 pages

SUFFERING SAINTS

chapter 9|16 pages

THE CASE FOR KILLING HERETICS

chapter 10|10 pages

CONCLUSION: “THE EDGE OF WONDER”