The Magic of the Horseshoe: Folklore, Myth & Superstition

by Robert Means Lawrence

A fascinating 1899 work tracing the origins of common superstitions through time and civilizations, tracking how they evolved

Superstitions still have a firm hold in cultures all across the world, but where did so many of them come from, and how do myths and beliefs differ from country to country? This 1899 gem sets out to determine just that, tracing superstitious origins across the world from ancient Egypt to Viking Norway to the Asian dynasties. Find out why people throw salt over their shoulder, why you should never open a theater on Friday in France, whether it is luckier to sneeze toward the left or the right, and why the number 13 is considered so unlucky. Readers of this book will finally be able to answer such important questions as whether a horseshoe on the door can protect from plague and why people say "bless you" after a sneeze.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1898

Reviews

[Jean-marie Stewart]

Fascinating! Both for the superstitions that still exist, and the downright weird ones!

[Isla Scott]

Some interesting detail. A bit bland at times, I suppose depending on what interests you. An easy book to skim read. Curious stuff.

[Irina]

Very interesting and informative read! Loved it

[Sonja]

This is a re-print of a book that was published in 1898. The author has collected snippets of folklore on different aspects (the horseshoe, salt, sneezing, animals, numbers, etc.) mostly from Europe but with a few examples elsewhere too. These are really interesting and entertaining, but since there are no references, it doesn't really pass the requirements for an academic study today. But it's a fun read anyway!

[Seizure Romero]

I found this 1899 gem (second printing, alas) at the Seattle Public Library sale last October. I know I'm going to end up giving it at least four stars. How do I know this? Because the contents page lists chapter headings as follows:

The Magic of the Horseshoe
Fortune and Luck
The Folk-Lore of Common Salt
The Omens of Sneezing
Days of Good and Evil Omen
Superstitious Dealings with Animals
The Luck of Odd Numbers
Topical Index

(emphasis added by reviewer)

I love library sales.

[Kourosh Keshavarz]

I stopped this after a couple of chapters. Although at first it was quick to flick through the dry facts after a while it was painful to read. I think something like this should be written in more of a story style narrative such as the books of Bill Bryson. The author had obviously done the research but the repetitive facts made it difficult to stay engaged.

[LC Coole]

A good book on superstition and folklores but is quite dated and leans towards Christian beliefs, even though ancient ones are included too.
Some topics have a bit too much information written on it (sneezing), whilst others (flora and fauna) aren’t mentioned as much as I would like.