Jane T. Sibley

I came to the topic of Norwegian folk and magic medicine with only a vague feel for it based on reading novels and was unsure if this would hold my interest or just gather dust. I ended up looking forward to each reading session and loved The Way of the Wise. As a writer, Sibley is extremely knowledgeable and it is clear this book is a book lovingly put together. The writing is not at all dry and is peppered with quips or insights that kept it moving along.

One reason The Way of the Wise: Traditional Norwegian Folk and Magic Medicine kept my interest is because of its unique blending of cultural and medical history. I feel I gained a lot of insight into the mindset of people from the medieval period up to the late 1800s. For example, "Certain herbs, notably purple gentian (Gentiana purpurea), which has a very bitter taste, had to be called a “nice” name (noanavn) so as to not get the spirit of that plant angry and thus not want to heal." As a modern person, that sensitivity would never occur to me. A thematic solution to healing would be to find a way to have the illness carried off - for example by "borrowing" a pebble from a churchyard so the dead would take away illness. Sibley also offered practical reasons why some folk medicine would work - such as drinking iron rich bog water for physical depression.

I have both the Kindle and trade paper edition. The great thing about the e-book version is that I could highlight interesting passages without messing up the book. On the other hand, it is more pleasant to read the **6** appendices using a physical book. The only very minor complaint I have is that it would be nice to have pictures of the plants discussed in the book. Afer all, how many people have a good idea of what witches' butter looks like?… (mehr)