Author Description

Flowers of Blood is a fascinating exploration of the folklore of plants in pre-industrial Sweden. Through a deep dive into the world of the enchanted flora of northern Europe, the author evokes a dreamlike borderland where the numinous is thought to dwell and where each plant and tree is filled with hidden meanings, arcane knowledge and mysterious powers. Imbued in a deep animistic worldview, the natural environment of the rural folk presented is alive with spirits and supernatural beings. Here, we encounter the Underworld Dwellers, the Devil, Näcken (the water sprite), Skogsrået (the forest sprite), Hyllefroa (the elder tree spirit) and biblical figures like Cain, Judas Iscariot and Maria, in evocative plant and tree folk legends. Through in-depth researches in the archives of Uppsala and Stockholm and older local historic books, Sara Bonadea George presents, for the first time in English, a body of lore that remains little known at present even in Sweden. Acclaimed by scholars and herbalists alike, Flowers of Blood offers a deep exploration of the ways in which folklore serves as a vital link between past and present, preserving Sweden's rich botanical, magical, cultural traditions. The book is richly illustrated with photos from museum archives and illustrations of skilfully chosen artists. The text is accompanied by a short story and poem by Per Faxneld, Associate Professor in History of Religions and author of several books on the history of esotericism. __ Contents The Tree of Cain - A Poem by Per Faxneld Flora of Enchantment. An Introduction The Yellow Flower of Blood Landscape of the Devil Temptation. The Tree of Knowledge Stem of the Traitor. Judas in Nature Eternal Unrest. The Trembling Aspen Tree of Blood The Juniper Cross Golgotha of the North Wreath of Humiliation. Crown of Thorns Maria in the Orchard, Freja