Shapeshifters : A History

Author: Kachuba, John B.

History: specific events & topics

Published on 21 September 2026 by REAKTION BOOKS in the United Kingdom.

Paperback / softback | 200 pages, 20 illustrations
198 x 129

There is something about a shapeshifter – a person who can transform into an animal – that grips our imagination, that tempts us to howl at the moon or flit through the night like a bat. Werewolves, vampires, demons and other strange beings appeal to our animal nature, our ‘dark side’, our desire to break free from society and proper behaviour. Across early cultures, rituals seemingly allowed shamans, sorcerers and witches to transform at will. Today millions believe shapeshifters walk among us and may even be world leaders. Real or imaginary, they lurk deep in our psyches and remain potent cultural icons. John B. Kachuba brings these myths and magic to life in a compelling and original history.