Book Curses

by Eleanor Baker

Genres: History, Non-fiction
Pages: 118
Rating:

Synopsis:

Have you ever wanted to protect your books from forgetful borrowers, merciless page-folders or outright thieves? Perhaps you have even wished harm on those who have damaged your books, but would you threaten them with hellfire, hanging or the plague? This book contains a collection of some of the most ferocious and humorous book curses ever inscribed, from fearsome threats discovered emblazoned on stone monuments from the ancient Near East, to elaborate manuscript maledictions and chilling warnings scribbled in printed books. Book curses are entertaining writings in themselves, but they also offer a tantalising insight into how passionately texts and books have been valued by their owners and readers over the centuries. Here you will find an engaging introduction to the history and development of the book curse and perhaps some inspiration to pen a few of your own.

Book Curses has commentary and selections by Eleanor Baker, but is largely taken up with reproductions of various curses people have written in books, from ancient times to modern, in order to “protect” the books from being stolen. I was hoping for a little more commentary, personally, though there is enough to provide context (both general, for each block of time discussed, and specific to each curse).

I wasn’t 100% sure I agreed with all of the translations, personally. It’s been over a decade since Middle English was my field, though (and I have a lot more practice with Anglo-Saxon and Icelandic), so probably I should concede that Baker likely knows what she’s doing. There was a translation of a word “pokke” (I think — I can’t quickly find the exact spelling again to check) which can mean “sleeve” or, more obviously, “pocket”. It was translated in this volume as “sleeve”, with a comment about a particular kind of sleeve that might have been meant. Pocket might have been a more common-sense translation there, if you’re going to be offering a translation and assuming your audience therefore can’t (all) translate the original.

That said, that’s quibbling, and I appreciated some of the other decisions very much (like keeping the original choice of where to break lines, for the most part). It’s an interesting little compilation!

Rating: 4/5