
Inscribed Power
Amulets and Magic in Early Spanish Literature
Ryan D. Giles(Author)
University of Toronto Press
Published on 29. August 2017
Book
Hardback
328 pages
978-1-4426-4607-0 (ISBN)
Description
In Inscribed Power, Ryan D. Giles explores the function of amuletic prayers, divine names, and incantation formulas that were inscribed and printed on parchment, paper and other media, and at the same time inserted into classic literary works in Spain. Giles' insightful analysis of the intersection between amulets and literary texts offers fresh and original interpretations of well-known texts such as the Poema de mio Cid, the Libro de Alexandre, the Libro de buen amor, Celestina, Lazarillo de Tormes, and the Buscon. Inscribed Power is a fascinating work that highlights specific amuletic texts that were used to heal, protect, or otherwise provide a blessing or curse to discover how their powers could influence fictional lives at different moments in the development of Spanish literature.
Reviews / Votes
"[Inscribed Power] is, in fine, a work of vast scope and of dense but well-informed and authoritative presentations of the several ramifications of its titular theme. It contributes significantly new readings of the medieval and early modern Spanish works discussed and breaks fresh scholarly ground in doing so."- Joseph T. Snow, Michigan State University (BSS, xcv 2018) "Inscribed Power [is] a valuable contribution both to the study of Spanish literature and to our knowledge of magic in the Iberian Peninsula."
- Don C. Skemer, Princeton University (Speculum, vol 94 1, Jan 2019)
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 231 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
635 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4426-4607-0 (9781442646070)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
09/2017
1st Edition
University of Toronto Press
€62.95
Available for download
Person
Ryan D. Giles is an associate professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Indiana University, Bloomington.
Content
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Introduction Literary Amulets
Chapter One Amuletic Manuscripts
Chapter Two Naming God
Chapter Three Amuletic Voices
Chapter Four The Bawd's Amulet
Chapter Five Outlaw Prayers
Postscript Amuletic Afterlives
Works Cited
Acknowledgements
Introduction Literary Amulets
Chapter One Amuletic Manuscripts
Chapter Two Naming God
Chapter Three Amuletic Voices
Chapter Four The Bawd's Amulet
Chapter Five Outlaw Prayers
Postscript Amuletic Afterlives
Works Cited