The Best Werewolf Short Stories 1800-1849 by Andrew Barger

Author:Andrew Barger
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: shape shifter stories, andrew barger, werewolf short stories, werewolf book, classic werewolf stories, werewolf anthology, stories about werewolves
Publisher: Andrew Barger
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Richard Thomsom

(1794-1865)

Introduction

The Wehr-Wolf

A Legend of the Limousin

This excellent tale of the werewolf came to light in the February 23, 1828, Vol. I issue of The Olio, or, Museum of Entertainment. It appeared on page 97 below an illustration of knights fighting on the battlefield. The story was first published anonymously. It next appeared when Richard Thomson published his three volume collection of short stories called, Tales of an Antiquary. In Vol. I is “The Wehr-Wolf: A Legend of the Limousin,” which is found on page 232. Thomson was librarian of the London Institute and a historian. His collection melded history and fiction in the way one would expect from a person with his literary background.

The story made such an impression that an 1828 Playbill for the Pavilion Theatre of London reveals a production titled: “The Wehr Wolf, or, The Hunter of Limousin” that same year. The playwright is listed as J. G. Reynolds.

This is the oldest werewolf story in this collection and one of the best. It is also, perhaps, the first werewolf short story in the English language. It forms the foundation of the modern werewolf short story on which the others were built. At a minimum, it must be praised for its originality. The story provides the first concept of wearing a werewolf skin as a cloak to prevent attacks from other werewolves. It also is apparently the first to describe the concept of striking a man beset with werewolfism between the eyes with a “fire fork” to change him back into the beast. It even has some comedic moments as did the play, which contained a comic song titled “Billy Barlow.”

The setting of the story is 1520.

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