[ Bizarre ] PENZER, N. M. [ aka Norman Mosley Penzer ].

Poison-Damsels, and other Essays in Folklore and Anthropology [ Poison Damsels ].

London: Privately Printed, Charles J. Sawyer Ltd., 1952. First Edition Thus. Hardcover, Small quarto, 320pp. Original scarlet cloth with gilt titling, bibliography and index A collection of four essays. Three of these "Poison-Damsels", "The Tale of the Two Thieves", and "Sacred Prostitution", are drawn from and elaborate upon passages from the Katha Sarit Sagara of Somadeva (The Ocean of Story). These explore such obscure bypaths of folklore as the devious methods employed by female assassins - from poisoned intercourse to the vagina dentata - (the Poison-Damsels of the title), and the etymology of the word pyjama. The fourth chapter, titled "The Romance of Betel-Chewing," is a detailed survey of the history, mythology, and effects of the habit. Just a hint of shelfwear, page edges a bit darkened, light toning to pages - else a bright and unmarked VG+ copy in mylar protected VG+ dust jacket. (Light chafing to edges and points, not price clipped. ). Item #69308

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