Human Animals, Frank Hamel
Human Animals, Frank Hamel
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Human Animals

Author: Frank Hamel

Narrator: Matthew Schmitz

Unabridged: 9 hr 45 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/21/2023

Synopsis

Frank Hamel's Human Animals (published in 1915) is an infamous and classic treatise on the mythology and the evidence of hybrid humans. This was one of the first popular works on cryptozoology, and a primer for those interested in the many stories and accounts of lycanthropy and other strange evolutionary paradoxes. Covering the Were-wolf Trials of 1521, to bird-women, human serpents and witch familiars, Hamel's research into the mythological, hysterical, historical and the subjective with a scholar's pen. Many religious ceremonies and occult practices are studied, and he helps us to understand how these fantastical creatures have become a part of our culture, from books of fiction, to very serious study. Human Animals is a book that contains records and accounts of traditions dealing with the belief that certain men and women can transform themselves into animals. The causes of transformation are various: contact with a wer-animal, touching what he has touched, wearing an animal skin, rubbing the body with ointment, slipping on a girdle, buckling on a strap, and many other expedients, magical and otherwise, may bring about the metamorphosis.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Andre on March 21, 2012

Ok, I cannot fully recommend this book, but I can recommend it in general. The author really has a lot of information about the human-animal relation in mythology and folklore in his book ranging from big bears to little mice. Not everything was unknown to me but the majority was. That the book has s......more

Goodreads review by Riju on October 17, 2015

When a hard-working person of somewhat scholastic bent decides to compile folklore and myths, you can expect either of two things to come out of the book or process: 1. a search is on to find the true source of such stories, so that, by following the smoke the fire can be traced; 2. an attempt would b......more

Goodreads review by Morgan on April 09, 2016

A really lovely little collection of stories about shapeshifting and the general cross-section between animals and humans in folklore, mythology and history. I really enjoyed reading this, although anyone who wants to give it a go should take note of the fact that it was written in the early twentiet......more

Goodreads review by Beth on January 25, 2011

Written in 1915. Frank Hamel (who actually was a woman) collected and organized tales about the transformation of animals into humans and vice versa. She has gathered her material from all over the world and organized by animal categories rather than cultures. An interesting and useful book.......more

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