Introduction: Entering the world of the shapeshifter -- 1. Gods and goddesses: Shapeshifters in antiquity -- 2. When men become gods: Mortal shapeshifters -- 3. The power of transformation -- 4. Fay, Faerie and Folk shapeshifters: Europe -- 5. Fay, Faerie and Folk shapeshifters around the world -- 6. The werewolf -- 7. The vampire -- 8. Fluid shapeshifters: Sex, gender and identity -- 9. Shapeshifters in popular culture: Literature and the media -- 10. Final transformation.
Summary
A cultural history of the myths, magic, and meaning surrounding shapeshifters. Featuring an array of examples from history, literature, film, TV, and computer games, it explores our secret desire to become something other than human.
