Enchanted Creatures - Our Monsters and Their Meanings

''A history of humanity without a history of our imaginations is only a partial one . . . '' We have always made and destroyed monsters. They reveal our fears and anxieties. They give form to what we don''t know or don''t understand, our inner demons and irrational terrors. Monsters are created as we try to deal with a world that is beyond our full control and comprehension. They help us to manage the complexity of our minds. This is what this book will explore as it delves into the incredible variety of monstrous creatures we have created over 15,000 years of history: from creatures carved in Paleolithic caves to devil-worshipping witches to science-fiction cyborgs. Understanding our monsters allows us to understand ourselves, perhaps the most important quest there is.

About the author

Natalie Lawrence is a writer, illustrator and researcher. She has a degree in Natural Sciences and received a PhD in the History and Philosophy of Science from Cambridge University for her work on early modern exotic monsters. She published Planta Sapiens with Paco Calvo in 2022, and her first solo book, Feathers and Eggshells when she was a teenager. Her writing has appeared in New Scientist, Aeon Magazine, Atlas Obscura and BBC Wildlife, amongst others, and she has spoken for TEDX, BBC Radio and podcasts. She lives in London with her curiosity cabinet and the occasional atlas moth.

Product details

• Authors: Natalie Lawrence, Lawrence Natalie
• Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicolson
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 27.04.2023
• EAN: 9781474619028
• ISBN: 978-1-4746-1902-8
• No. of pages: 320
• Dimensions: 134 mm x 210 mm x 32 mm
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Folklore & Mythology, SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, PSYCHOLOGY / History, Philosophy of Science, Popular psychology, Folklore, myths & legends, History: earliest times to present day, Folklore, myths and legends