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  • Victorian Urban Legends: Nose Duel May 28, 2022

    Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern
    Victorian Urban Legends: Nose Duel

    ***I’m putting a series of Victorian Urban Legends posts up to draw the reader’s attention to my forthcoming book: The Nail in the Skull and Other Victorian Urban Legends. This legend (with full references) will appear in a second volume. If anyone can fill in missing pieces or German sources… I’ll be grateful and you’ll […]

    Explaining Death Omens May 1, 2022

    Author: Beach Combing | in : Contemporary, Modern
    Explaining Death Omens

    I just can’t take pre-cognition and death omens seriously: a bat flying into the window, a rooster singing loud at midnight, even an encounter with a tall woman combing her hair. Yes, yes, all these are picturesque folklore confetti. But to say, as many of our ancestors did, that they represent the grim reaper throwing […]