A fascinating deep dive into one of the strangest and most symbolic animals in Western religious history — the pig. The Singular Beast by Claudine Fabre-Vassas (Columbia University Press, 1997) traces how Jews and Christians developed radically different cultural, religious, and social meanings around swine, and how those meanings shaped centuries of myth, folklore, taboo, ritual, and identity.
Drawing from anthropology, medieval texts, Christian tradition, Jewish dietary law, and European folklore, Fabre-Vassas unpacks why the pig became a lightning rod in religious imagination — sometimes sacred, often forbidden, and always symbolically powerful. Richly illustrated and beautifully printed on acid-free paper, this edition includes historical artwork and documents that illuminate the narrative.
Perfect for readers of religious studies, folklore, anthropology, medieval history, and anyone who loves exploring the strange ways culture shapes belief.