Possessed. Women, Witches, and Demons in Tsarist Russia

Possession by demons is not only the plot twist of classic horrors but also a fairly common reality of life in the Russian village of the 19th century. Kristine Vorobets' monograph examines the phenomenon of 'klikushectvo' as a social and... cultural phenomenon with a wide range of meanings bestowed upon it by various groups in Russian society. The author explores the behavior of the 'klikushi' from different perspectives, ranging from folk Orthodoxy and secular rationalism to literary practices that are particularly important for Russian culture. K. Vorobets demonstrates that 'klikushectvo' is part of a peculiar ritual drama, and to understand it, one must refer to the socio-cultural context of peasant women's lives in the Russian Empire of the 19th century.
Kristine Vorobets is an honorary professor at Northern Illinois University and the recipient of the Heldt Prize in the category of Best Book in Women's Studies.