Omens And Superstitions

Originally published in 1978, this dictionary traces the probable origins of superstitions from all over the world, discussing the symbolic context in which they still survive and suggesting how they can help exploit good luck and avoid the bad.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This book deals mainly with some aspects of what may be termed the psychical life of the inhabitants of the Madras Presidency, and the Native States of Travancore and Cochin. Edgar Thurston CIE (1855-1935) was a superintendent at the Madras Government Museum who contributed to studies in the zoology, ethnology and botany of India and published works related to his work at the museum. Thurston was educated in medicine and lectured in anatomy at the Madras Medical College while also holding his position at the museum. His early works were on numismatics and geology and this was followed later by his researches in anthropology and ethnography.

A man amiably accustoms himself to the inconveniences presented by his wife's ever growing blanket until he finds that he will have to accustom himself to losing his wife.