The Black Legend of Prince Rupert's Dog
Witchcraft and Propaganda during the English Civil War
Distributed for Liverpool University Press
One of the most bizarre consequences of the English Civil War of 1642–46 was the celebrity status attained by a “dog-witch” named Boy, the loyal companion of Charles I’s nephew, Prince Rupert of the Rhine. Like his master, Boy was held to possess supernatural powers and gained popular interest through artistic renderings and sensational literature, where he was frequently portrayed as a devil or a witch. This compelling new book from Mark Stoyle sets out to uncover the true story of Boy—and in the process sheds new light on a fascinating series of collisions and interactions between polemic and traditional witch-belief in the troubled 1640s.
“[Stoyle] has an enviable record of identifying new and illuminating lines, of offering fresh interpretations backed up by extensive and impeccable research and of presenting his work clearly and attractively.”
“The author’s reputation as a leading scholar of the English civil wars should ensure that this is a book that will be noticed and widely reviewed.”
“A cross over book, appealing as it should to those who are obsessed by witchcraft and those who are keen follower of civil war studies.”
History: British and Irish History
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