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The Book of Beasts: Being a Translation from a Latin Bestiary of the Twelfth Century

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The Book of Beasts: Being a Translation from a Latin Bestiary of the Twelfth CenturyIf a serpent swallows the spittle of a fasting man, it dies. Trees felled in the wrong season breed termites. If eels are drowned in wine, those who drink it get a loathing for liquor. These and similar flights of fancy were articles of faith in the twelfth century the era of the fascinating Latin prose bestiary translated in this volume. The translator is T. H. White, author of The Once and Future King and outstanding medievalist. Of The Book of

If a serpent swallows the spittle of a fasting man, it dies. Trees felled in the wrong season breed termites. If eels are drowned in wine, those who drink it get a loathing for liquor.
These and similar flights of fancy were articles of faith in the twelfth century -- the era of the fascinating Latin prose bestiary translated in this volume. The translator is T. H. White, author of The Once and Future King and outstanding medievalist. Of The Book of Beasts, White writes: No Latin prose bestiary has ever before been printed, even in Latin. This is the first and only English translation in print.
The bestiary was a bestseller in the Middle Ages, a kind of natural history cum-zoological survey that presumed to describe the animals of the world and to point out the human traits they exemplified. Combining the surprisingly accurate with the endearingly phantasmagorical, the bestiarists came up with a bewildering array of real and exotic creatures. The behavior or attributes of the animals often functioned as a metaphor for teaching religious, moral, and political precepts.
In addition to a multitude of real mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish, described here with varying degrees of zoological accuracy, the bestiarist introduces a swarm of fanciful denizens thought to haunt the Dark Ages: manticore, a creature with a man's face, a lion's body, and a ravenous appetite for human flesh; dragon or draco, the biggest serpent and the embodiment of the Devil; amphivia, a fish that could walk on land and swim in the sea; jaculus, a flying serpent; the familiar phoenix; the griffin; and other exotic fauna. Much of the charm of this edition lies in the copious footnotes compiled by T. H. White. With immense erudition, wit, grace, and a singular lack of condescension, the author illuminates literary, scientific, historical, linguistic, and other aspects of the bestiarist's catalog. He further enhances the volume with informative discussions of the history of the bestiary from its origins in remote oral traditions; through Herodotus, Pliny and Aristotle; during the medieval period and the Renaissance; and up to Sir Thomas Browne's Vulgar Errors (1646). Both amusing and amazing, The Book of Beasts is not only a rich survey of the proto-zoology on which much of our later science is based, but also a revealing, illustrated examination of how pre-scientific man perceived the earth's creatures.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: 12/22/2010
ISBN: 9780486246093
Pages: 320
Weight: 0.81lbs
Size: 8.24h x 5.66w x 0.69d
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SKU: 62677757601

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Elkin Mauricio
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Calidad en Tela y presentación.
Size: 10, Color: Beige
El Traje divino, tal como la imagen. Solo le quedó un tris grande a mi hijo y listo.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2026
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Kara Robinson | IG: @booklistfordays
Port Orchard, US
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Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2026
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Whitings
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Adorable special occasion suit for boys
Size: 5, Color: Light Blue, Size: 5, Color: Light Blue
I ordered this 3-piece suit for my son and even though it’s currently a little too big for him, I couldn’t resist keeping it because it’s absolutely adorable! The quality really impressed me right out of the package. The fabric feels lightweight and breathable, which will be perfect for warmer weather, and it has a nice polished look without feeling stiff. The set comes with a blazer, vest, and pants, and each piece is very well made. I love the little details like the lapel on the jacket, the adjustable strap on the vest, and the adjustable waist on the pants, which will definitely help as he grows. It looks like a much more expensive suit than it actually is. Even though my son will have to grow into it, I’m already excited for him to wear it. I’m thinking it will be perfect for Easter next year or any special occasion. It’s such a cute outfit, and I love that the pieces can be mixed and matched for different looks. Overall, I’m really happy with this purchase and can’t wait to see him wearing it! The blue color goes well for any occasion and I may have to order my husband a suit in matching shade of blue so they can be twins. The size looks accurate for boys 5T. I took a picture to show the pants next to a pair of unwashed Oshkosh B’Gosh brand straight leg 5T boys denim jeans.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2026
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Jordan
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect Summer Suit for Boys – Stylish and Comfortable!
Size: 5, Color: Light Green
I’m so impressed with this **boys' linen summer suit**! 👔🌞 It’s the perfect outfit for warmer weather while still looking sharp and stylish. The **linen fabric** is lightweight and breathable, making it ideal for those hot summer days. My son looked fantastic in it, and he was comfortable all day long, which is a big plus! The suit fits **true to size**, and the cut is modern yet classic. The **jacket** has a great, tailored look without being too stiff, and the **trousers** are just the right fit—not too baggy or too tight. It’s a very **polished** look for events like weddings, family gatherings, or holiday parties. I also love that the **color options** are vibrant and fresh, perfect for summer. The suit is **easy to care for**—I was worried about linen wrinkles, but it’s held up well after a few washes, and the fabric still looks crisp. Overall, this **boys' linen summer suit** is an excellent purchase for any special occasion or just to make your little one look extra sharp during the summer months. **Comfortable, stylish, and durable**—highly recommend! 🌟👔
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Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2026
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MScala
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice summer suit for my son
Size: 6, Color: Light Green, Size: 6, Color: Light Green
I got this linen suit for my 7 year old son and it looks really nice on him. The set comes with the blazer, vest, and pants, which makes it look very polished when worn together. The material is lightweight and breathable, which is great for warmer weather. It has that classic linen look but still feels comfortable enough for kids to move around in. My son wore it for a few hours and didn’t complain about it being uncomfortable. I also like the little details like the pockets, the adjustable back on the vest, and the adjustable waistband on the pants. Those features really help with getting a better fit. Another nice thing is that you can mix and match the pieces. He can wear the vest and pants for a slightly more casual look or the full suit for more formal occasions. Overall it’s a really nice suit for kids, especially for events like weddings, family gatherings, or school events. My son looked great in it and it worked perfectly for the occasion.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2026

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