Demonology And Witchcraft, Sir Walter Scott, 1884 Edition

SIR WALTER SCOTT'S DEMONOLOGY AND WITCHCRAFT.
Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft by Sir Walter Scott, Bart.
With an introduction by Henry Morley LL.D., Professor of English Literature at University College, London.
Printed 1884 by George Routledge and Sons, London.
A part of a series called Morley's Universal Library.

Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft Addressed to J. G. Lockhart, Esq. (1830) was a study of witchcraft and the supernatural by Sir Walter Scott. A lifelong student of folklore, Scott was able to draw on a wide-ranging collection of primary and secondary sources. His book found many readers throughout the 19th century, and exercised a significant influence in promoting the Victorian vogue for Gothic and ghostly fiction. Though on first publication it met with mixed reviews, it is now recognised as a pioneering work of scientific anthropology, treating of its subject in an acute and analytical way which prefigures later scholarship on the subject, as well as presenting a highly readable collection of supernatural anecdotes.

The book is divided into ten parts, each taking the form of a letter from the author to his son-in-law, J. G. Lockhart. This format allows Scott to write in an informal, discursive manner, enhancing the book's readability. He presents a wide survey of attitudes to demonology and witchcraft from Biblical times up to the 19th century, illustrating it with a large number of anecdotes of individual cases. He considers also the topics of ghosts, fairies, brownies, elves, second sight, and the mythologies of the various Germanic peoples. Belief in these phenomena is presented as the result of ignorance and prejudice, which was eventually dispersed by the rise of rationalist philosophy in the 18th century. Witchcraft prosecutions were, he points out, often directed against heretics and political undesirables. Throughout he treats his subjects in the analytical, rationalist manner to be expected of an heir of the Scottish Enlightenment. (Source: Wikipedia)

The book measures 13cm x 19cm.

CONDITION:

The publishers blue cloth binding has signs of age, use and wear. Noticeably shelf worn along the boards edges, corners bumped and worn. Discoluration and marks/scratches across all sides. Rear board has a few indents along the fore edge and bottom edge. The spine is sunned, title dulled, with visible dent. Head and foot of spine crushed and rubbed. Front board title and floral design in black ink, remains attractive but a little discoloured/darkened. Joints have no splitting, holding ok.

Front pastedown/flyleaf is a printed description of Morleys Universal Library. Rear pastedown/flyleaf is a list of Routledge's Standard Library. The inner hinges of both boards are partially splitting, exposing some webbing beneath, although the boards do remain attached, the front more delicately so.

The textblock is toned/yellowed overall. Some minor foxing in places, along with a little creasing and corner folds. There are no previous owner inscriptions, highlighting or notes. Binding is good, no loose or missing pages. 

Overall the book remains in acceptable reading condition. Some clear signs of age, use and wear. The cover most notably worn, with care advised when handling the boards with delicate hinges.

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