O'Donnell, Elliott: Werwolves, v1 21 Sep 2008
From Chapter 1:
What is a werwolf? To this there is no one very satisfactory reply. There are, indeed, so many diverse views held with regard to the nature and classification of werwolves, their existence is so keenly disputed, and the subject is capable of being regarded from so many standpoints, that any attempt at definition in a restricted sense would be well-nigh impossible.
The word werwolf (or werewolf) is derived from the Anglo-Saxon wer, man, and wulf, wolf, and has its equivalents in the German Währwolf and French loup-garou, whilst it is also to be found in the languages, respectively, of Scandinavia, Russia, Austria-Hungary, the Balkan Peninsula, and of certain of the countries of Asia and Africa; from which it may be concluded that its range is pretty well universal.
Indeed, there is scarcely a country in the world in which belief in a werwolf, or in some other form of lycanthropy, has not once existed, though it may have ceased to exist now. But whereas in some countries the werwolf is considered wholly physical, in others it is looked upon as partly, if not entirely, superphysical. And whilst in some countries it is restricted to the male sex, in others it is confined to the female; and, again, in others it is to be met with in both sexes.
Includes:
WHAT IS A WERWOLF?
WERWOLF METAMORPHOSIS COMPARED WITH OTHER BRANCHES OF LYCANTHROPY
THE SPIRITS OF WERWOLVES
HOW TO BECOME A WERWOLF
WERWOLVES AND EXORCISM
THE WERWOLF IN THE BRITISH ISLES
THE WERWOLF IN FRANCE
WERWOLVES AND VAMPIRES AND GHOULS
WERWOLVES IN GERMANY
A LYCANTHROPOUS BROOK IN THE HARZ MOUNTAINS; OR, THE CASE OF THE COUNTESS HILDA VON BREBER
THE WERWOLF IN SPAIN
THE WERWOLVES AND MARAS OF DENMARK
WERWOLVES IN NORWAY AND SWEDEN
THE WERWOLF IN RUSSIA AND SIBERIA
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