The Magic of the Horse-shoe, with other folk-lore notes
Robert Means Lawrence, a Boston physician with a scholar's interest in popular belief, published The Magic of the Horse-shoe in 1898. The title essay traces the lucky horseshoe through history and asks why it should guard doors and stables, considering in turn horns and other two-pronged charms, the open hand, the crescent moon, the protective virtue of iron, the reputed powers of blacksmiths, and the horseshoe nailed to church doors and tavern signs, before summing up the competing theories. Shorter studies follow on Fortune and luck from the Greek goddess Tyche onward, the omens of sneezing, lucky and unlucky days, superstitions about animals, and the luck of odd numbers. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
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Frequently asked questions about The Magic of the Horse-shoe, with other folk-lore notes
The Magic of the Horse-shoe, with other folk-lore notes by Robert Means Lawrence can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Magic of the Horse-shoe, with other folk-lore notes online?
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Is The Magic of the Horse-shoe, with other folk-lore notes in the public domain?
Yes. The Magic of the Horse-shoe, with other folk-lore notes by Robert Means Lawrence is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
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About 5 h 20 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Magic of the Horse-shoe, with other folk-lore notes?
The Magic of the Horse-shoe, with other folk-lore notes by Robert Means Lawrence is filed under "Religion & Mythology" in the Vinteuil library.
