tomas0772 reviewed Eaters of the Dead by Kevin J. Wetmore
Entertaining approach leaving the reader hungry for more!
5 stars
If there's one taboo in human nature, it's the idea of eating another human. In Eaters of the Dead: Myths and Realities of Cannibal Monsters, Kevin J. Wetmore Jr takes us on a tour de force journey throughout history and mythology to examine how one of our greatest underlying fears (being eaten) has permeated our worldwide cultures for millennia.
Although the title alludes to the idea of cannibalism as we are shown in popular culture, with varying horror films such as Cannibal Holocaust, and TV shows such as The Walking Dead, in Eaters of the Dead we delve not just through history, but also mythology and folklore where a variety of creatures exist, such as the ghūl whose origins in Arabia have become adapted not just through our own ghost stories, but also our more common parlance, when describing someone as 'ghoulish', the renowned Grendel in the popular tale of …
If there's one taboo in human nature, it's the idea of eating another human. In Eaters of the Dead: Myths and Realities of Cannibal Monsters, Kevin J. Wetmore Jr takes us on a tour de force journey throughout history and mythology to examine how one of our greatest underlying fears (being eaten) has permeated our worldwide cultures for millennia.
Although the title alludes to the idea of cannibalism as we are shown in popular culture, with varying horror films such as Cannibal Holocaust, and TV shows such as The Walking Dead, in Eaters of the Dead we delve not just through history, but also mythology and folklore where a variety of creatures exist, such as the ghūl whose origins in Arabia have become adapted not just through our own ghost stories, but also our more common parlance, when describing someone as 'ghoulish', the renowned Grendel in the popular tale of Beowulf, which has been passed down for centuries, and like the Arabic ghūl is known for eating human flesh.
In our history, especially in areas such as Nepal, the practice of sky burials where bodies are placed on top of mountains to be eaten by birds and other animals is something I was not aware of and, with Westmore's help, we see how eating the dead takes on a different, and more spiritual perspective.
However, it is the more recent past which often takes a preference for the reader, with our age of mass media, takes of modern cannibalism such as the tragedy of The Donner Party, serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer have become part of modern culture. With numerous films and TV shows being made relating to cannibalism, it is a subject that has remained close to human consciousness which Kevin J. Wetmore Jr provides a greater understanding of why.
In Eaters of the Dead: Myths and Realities of Cannibal Monsters by Kevin J. Wetmore Jr makes the taboo seem almost enjoyable, broken down into sections so the reader can take the book bite-size (pun intended) or as a whole. Full of fascinating history, exploring not just our own cultures, but allowing the reader a greater understanding of why we're so fascinated with this most taboo of subjects.