In medieval literature, when humans and animals meet—whether as friends or foes—issues of mastery and submission are often at stake. In the Skin of a Beast shows how the concept of sovereignty comes to the fore in such narratives, reflecting larger concerns about relations of authority and dominion at play in both human-animal and human-human interactions. Peggy McCracken discusses a range of literary texts and images from medieval France, including romances in which animal skins appear in symbolic displays of power, fictional explorations of the wolf’s desire for human domestication, and tales of women and snakes converging in a representation of territorial claims and noble status. These works reveal that the qualities traditionally used to define sovereignty—lineage and gender among them—are in fact mobile and contingent. In medieval literary texts, as McCracken demonstrates, human dominion over animals is a disputed model for sovereign relations among people: it justifies exploitation even as it mandates protection and care, and it depends on reiterations of human-animal difference that paradoxically expose the tenuous nature of human exceptionalism.

First Published in 1967. This is volume one of three of The History of Four- footed Beasts taken principally from the ‘ Historite Animalium’ of Conrad Gesner. During the first decade of the seventeenth century, when Topsell prepared his translation, zoology had just become a science. It has a unique place: It was the first major book on animals printed in Great Britain in English; and it appeared at the last moment in history when all zoological knowledge since antiquity could be summarized sympathetically, before it was rendered a curiosity by the many new discoveries soon to come.

This time he’s fighting for his family. Axel When I left home to follow my dream of becoming a boxer, I was too young and stupid to know what I was leaving behind. These days I fill my world with the blood and sweat of a violent profession and the meaningless sexual conquests that come with it. A futile attempt to erase from my mind the only woman I’ve ever loved. Since I can’t let her go, I have no choice but to win her back. Olive I’ve loved Axel my entire life. The boy next door. We didn’t talk about the attraction building between us, until one fateful night those sparks finally burst into flames. But when he broke my heart, he left me with a souvenir. A walking, talking little reminder of the man I will always love, but can never again trust with my heart. Now he’s back, wanting to pick up where we left off. And there’s no way I’m letting him know about our baby. For a hot new adult, secret baby romance with a guaranteed HEA, one-click your copy of Beast’s Baby and start reading this sexy sports romance today!

Sandy Kurtz has problems. He's got a baby on the way, his wife doesn't love him, and he's struggling to find passion or purpose at his big-box retail job. And, once a month, he turns into a werewolf. In Darrin Doyle's deft hands, Sandy's story is a tall tale for our times, an absurd and darkly comedic take on toxic masculinity, small-town America, and the terror of not knowing who you are—or who you're capable of becoming. Join us on the trip. Feel the power of the full moon as it turns you into a carnivore capable of ruling the wilds of rural Michigan. Taste the rich blood of a pulsing animal heart; feel it cascade down your face as you transform into what you always wanted to be. Enter...the wolf.

In 'The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion' by James George Frazer, the reader is taken on a journey through the origins of religious beliefs and practices across different cultures. Frazer meticulously compares rituals, myths, and customs from various societies, delving into the similarities and differences between them. Written in a scholarly yet accessible style, the book weaves together historical accounts, anthropological studies, and folklore to present a comprehensive study of humanity's spiritual evolution. As a pioneering work in the field of comparative religion, 'The Golden Bough' offers a unique perspective on the universality of certain religious themes and symbols. This masterpiece of comparative mythology remains a crucial text for anyone interested in the intersection of culture, society, and spirituality. James George Frazer, a distinguished anthropologist and folklorist, drew on years of research and fieldwork to compile 'The Golden Bough.' His fascination with ancient rituals and beliefs led him to explore the connections between different cultures and religions. Frazer's expertise in comparative religion shines through in the meticulous analysis and insights presented in the book. For readers seeking a profound understanding of the roots of religious practices and beliefs, 'The Golden Bough' is an essential read. Frazer's meticulous research and engaging writing style make this two-volume study a timeless classic in the field of comparative religion.