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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. Look inside, learn more.
List of contents
Contents
Foreword: NEW by Owen Davies
Welcome: A journey of discovery into the world of fairy tales and legends
Chapter 1: Past And Present
A short history of house spirits
House spirits as an object of narrative research
Chapter 2: House Spirits
The Kobold
The Wichtel
The Drak
The Holzfräulein
The Geldmännlein
Chapter 3: Wrapping Up – Insights Into The Science
Tobias Janouschek: Of Lares and Penates – Honouring household deities in the Roman Empire
Professor Tobias Gärtner: Textual and archaeological sources for beliefs in house spirits in the medieval period
Professor Rudolf Simek: Large trolls, small trolls, house spirits
Burkhard Kling: Die Irishen Elfenmaerchen of the Brothers Grimm
Janin Pisarek: The Changeling – A fiend in the cradle
Eberhard Bauer: Spooks and ghostly apparitions of the past and present
Chapter 4: In The Myth Studio – A Glimpse Behind The Scenes
Chapter 5: What Remains? A Summary
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
About the author
Florian Schäfer
Florian is the driving force behind Forgotten Creatures. The biologist has been fascinated by the sagas and fairy tales of his homeland since childhood. In his artistic work he combines his knowledge of anatomy and ecology, as well as his in-depth knowledge of cultural science. In this way Florian creates unique creatures and spirits that give us insight into our own cultural past.
Janin Pisarek
Janin is a folklorist, she is responsible for the technical quality control at Forgotten Creatures. She studied folklore, cultural history, and educational science at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena. Her thesis on wolves and werewolves in oral stories and German folk belief, including the current return of the wolf, received the Special Promotion Prize from the Märchenstiftung Walter Kahn.
Hannah Gritsch
Hannah is a communication designer with a focus on photography and graphic design. With her unique style, Hannah manages to breathe life into Florian’s sculptures in a fascinating way. She is the designated contact person for all graphical and aesthetical issues and supports the project with her experience in the advertising industry.
Summary
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. Look inside, learn more.
