Today we have a special guest blog from Niels K. Petersen over at Magia Posthuma -
On several occasions, particularly on the periphery of the Habsburg Empire during the 17th and 18th centuries, dead people were suspected of being revenants or vampires, and consequently dug up and destroyed. Contemporary authors named this phenomenon Magia Posthuma. This blog is dedicated to understanding what happened and why.
Thanks Niels!
Angelique Gaudet, the owner of a book shop in Fort McIntyre, receives a strange package for her birthday. Unpacking it, she finds a book:
‘The book was old, very old and heavy. The binding was leather. The typeface was small. The language was Latin.
Looking over her shoulder, Fred read the title aloud. “Magia Posthuma.” He frowned. “Let me look at that.” He opened the volume to the title page. “If I remember my law school Latin, this is a study of the reanimation of the dead. And it’s apparently a scholarly treatise. It’s dedicated to the Bishop of Olmütz and was published in 1706.” He handed it back to her. “It’s a strange birthday gift, but I suspect it’s very valuable.’
As she later on takes a closer look at the book, Miss Gaudet doesn’t feel comfortable with it:
‘She stroked the thin, worn leather cover. It was as if a mantle of chill air swirled around her shoulders and she shivered, but she turned the pages carefully. The volume was illustrated with ancient woodcuts. The pictures were gruesome. Scenes in graveyards with priests standing by open graves. Wooden caskets thrown open. Corpses with stakes through their chests. She shook her head nervously and put the book down. This was not a book for a night when you were having trouble sleeping.’
These events unfold in the 1989 novel Blood Legacy by Prudence Foster that otherwise is inspired by characters from the history of the so-called ‘Blood Countess’, Elizabeth Bathory, and is a variation on the theme of the age old vampire seeking the modern reincarnation of his love. ‘Love Never Dies,’ as we know from the movie Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
I for one envy Miss Gaudet in being presented with an original copy of Magia Posthuma. It is indeed a rare and very valuable book, and a legend in its own right. Mentioned in almost every modern book on vampires, Magia Posthuma is a household title among vampire aficionados, but very few people have actually read it.
The book itself is in fact neither heavy nor illustrated with woodcuts. It isn’t even really a book about the reanimation of the dead!
Magia Posthuma per juridicum illud pro & contra suspenso nonnullibi judicio investigata was written by Karl Ferdinand von Schertz at the beginning of the 18th century and published sometime in 1704 or 1706 in Olomouc in Moravia, the Eastern part of what is now the Czech Republic.
In those days Moravia and neighbouring areas like Silesia apparently had problems with ‘magia posthuma’, posthumous magic: Dead people returning to torment and haunt the living, their corpses showing no signs of corruption. The most effective remedy against this magical phenomenon was believed to be the destruction of the corpses, in particular by fire. As the corpses were typically those of people suspected of performing acts of magic while alive, the burning of their corpses could be considered the post mortem punishment at the stake of witches.
Being a lawyer, von Schertz’s aim was to examine how to deal with such cases. Consequently, he studied a number of cases of posthumous magic, and aided by the writings of various authorities on matters of law and demonology, like e.g. the famed Catholic theologian Martin Del Rio, he closely argued pro & contra various conceptions of the phenomenon and ways to rid oneself of it.
Although a sceptic, von Schertz did not question the reality of demons and spectres. He actually ridiculed Thomas Hobbes for claiming that spectres do not exist. Although he did in fact concede to the use of post mortem executions of presumed revenants, he also suggested other methods like masses and prayer.
The practices of the Catholic Church in Moravia and neighbouring countries during that period have been debated by historians. Did the Jesuits encourage the superstitious beliefs of the local population, or did they just try to stay on good terms with the superstitious inhabitants? What is certain is that the Jesuits themselves later on came at odds with the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa’s endeavours to extend her enlightened rule to those territories. In 1755 she even set out to stop post mortem executions of corpses suspected of posthumous magic, as well as other acts of superstition.
Today exclusively known through Augustin Calmet’s famous dissertation on revenants and vampires from 1746, Dissertations sur les apparitions des anges, des demons, des esprits etc., a copy of the original Magia Posthuma is hard to come by. As no one put the book in a package outside my front door, it took quite some effort on my behalf to gain access to a copy. I now am aware of but three existing copies, one in France, and two in the Czech Republic.
Apparently read by very few people since Calmet’s time, Magia Posthuma sheds light on what some might consider ‘proto-vampires’, although not vampires in the modern sense. The posthumous magic of von Schertz’s time did not involve blood sucking revenants with fangs, but rather haunting spectres and poltergeists.
Magia Posthuma provides us with a link back in time from the modern vampire of fiction to the roots of vampire lore. The history of the Moravian posthumous magic, the Serbian vampires encountered by the Austrian military in the early 18th century, and various other revenant beliefs of continental Europe is no less exciting, surprising or horrifying than what can be found in vampire novels. In fact, we can learn a lot about our past and our relationship with the dead through the cases that can be found in archival material and old and obscure books like Magia Posthuma.
So as the vampire of modern novels and movies seems to become ever more successful, it is high time to explore the factual and historical basis of the myth that has brought us Lord Ruthven, Carmilla Karnstein, Count Dracula, Lestat de Lioncourt, and Edward Cullen.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
White Witch Black Curse Review
White Witch Black Curse is book 7 in The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. While these books feature a witch as the main character, her best friend and work partner is a vampire, and so was her lover - so I think this book series can still fit in with this blog. Yes it was released at the end of February this year, but with my absence, I am still playing catch up.
Rachel Morgan; witch, paranormal crime solver, and friend of a living vampire and pixie family is going through a lot of personal trials in this book. She is trying to remember the death of a loved one in hopes of finding the murderer responsible, the witch community is turning away from her because of her demon marks, and she is still struggling with her relationship with her vampire friend Ivy. To make matters worse, a friend has been almost killed and she must take down the creature who hurt him - which is a lot harder than some people realize. Did I mention the demon marks? Plus she has "demon school" once a week with a nasty demon she had to make a bargain with to save some one's life. Things just get more complicated for Rachel; and emotional.
Not to spoil it for anyone, but after a certain death in the books I did not want to continue on. Semi-reluctantly picking up this book, I soon was engrossed with Harrison's plot and writing and could not put it down. For one, the books are hilarious. I laughed out loud several times, earning weird looks from my husband. Secondly, Harrison really knows how to produce emotion in her readers. I laughed, cried, was angry, sad, frustrated, and annoyed. Several times I wanted to have a frustrating crying tantrum for Rachel. So many things go wrong I felt so bad for her!
On a happy note (the only happy note?) a ghost from her past shows up - which leaves her hopeful for the future.
I think The Hollows Series are a great Halloween read - the books incorporate pagan elements, as well as vampires, pixies, witches, weres, and other creatures that go bump in the night (and many that go bump in the day). I have renewed interest in the series and I look forward to the next book.
Black Magic Sanction - Book 8, will be released in February 2010.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sunday Morning Comics
Vampirella
This was also yesterday's Halloween costumes search.
Vampirella is a sexy female vampire born on Drakulon. In this dark realm of hell, blood flowed like water in huge rivers and Vampirella depended on this blood for sustenance. When Vampi came to Earth, she was forced to drink the blood of humans to survive.
Once on Earth, Vampirella was given a sacred mission - to rid the Earth of all vampires, the evil offspring of her own mother Lilith! In this quest, she has faced off against a number of powerful enemies, including the Blood Red Queen, Hemorrhage and even the legendary Dracula himself!
In a quest to discover her true origins, Vampirella discovered she is the first of a new breed of vampire, evolved for the new millennium. She is without any of the traditional weaknesses of a Vampires - immune to sunlight, garlic, religious icons, or even holy water. Although Vampirella does possess supernatural strength, speed, and ferocity, her greatest power lies in her iconic beauty and irresistible sensuality.
Vampirella debuted in 1969 in a black and white magazine titled simply VAMPIRELLA. With a sunning new cover by the legendary Frank Frazetta, Vampirella #1 quickly made publishing history. Vamiprella appeared in this magazine format through the 1970s. Many of these classic stories were illustrated by the legendary artist Jose Gonzalez and have remained quite popular to the present day. After a brief publishing hiatus, Vampirella returned in 1992 in a blockbuster new color comic book format. She quickly regained her reigning status of the queen of all female characters! Since the early 90s, Vampirella has appeared in a new color issue each and every month, written and illustrated by top artistic talents worth of Vampirella's rich legacy! Every issue of Vamirella is a good point to start reading, with a "Story So Far" recap to bring new readers up to speed.
- take from Comic Monsters
- take from Comic Monsters
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Saturday Halloween Costume Search
This week's Vampire Costume you won't find many people wearing! In fact, many people probably shouldn't attempt it. But if you are having a Halloween night just with your significant other or going to a super skanky sexy Halloween party - have at it.
Vampirella
All you need is a white collar, some red latex paint, some gold paint for the crotch accent, black boots and a fake (or real, if you can manage it) bat!
If anyone has, or will dress up like Vampirella, I want pictures.
Don't forget to enter to win Halloween Goodies!
Don't forget to enter to win Halloween Goodies!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Enter to Win Friday
We have a lot of great prizes to win this month!
Here are some of our prize contributers:
So to enter to win in the big giveway on October 31st leave a comment answering the following question:
What is your favorite vampire movie?
There are also some other contests going on:
I will be accepting entries until 11:59PM Sunday night (Pacific Time)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Day 1 - Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween!
Welcome Ghouls and Gals to my first ever 31 Days of Halloween!
I am excited to have some blogger favorites, as well as new and upcoming authors guest for the event.
There are also lots of goodies to be won! Fridays will feature a poll with your chance to win books and goodies - and you have four Fridays to enter - that's 4 chances to win! Earn another chance to win when you become a subscriber to my blog!
This month is all about vampires and Halloween! So stay tuned for what each day will bring!
Monday, September 21, 2009
31 Days of Halloween
Gearing up for 31 Days of Halloween!
If anyone is interested in participating - either link shout-outs, guest blogging, short stories, anything, email me at bookswithabite (at) gmail (dot) com.
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