Hexekver: From a Forgotten Manuscript to a Magical Book Launch at Bókin

Not long ago, a small, handwritten Icelandic book of magic from 1859 turned up at Bókin, rescued from a pile of papers destined for recycling. Recognising that this was no ordinary find, Erikur called Kári Pálsson to ask whether he might be interested. Fortunately, he was!

The manuscript, most likely written by Icelandic farmer Þorsteinn Guðmundsson, belongs to the fascinating tradition of galdrabækur - books of spells, magical symbols and folk knowledge. The title Hexekver actually appears in the original manuscript itself.

And what a collection of spells it is!

Judging by the many spells concerning the opposite sex, love, unsurprisingly, seems to have been just as complicated in 1859 as it is today! :-) There are spells for everything from attracting women to becoming pregnant (or avoiding it — though some of the rather poisonous ingredients are best left firmly in the 19th century!), and even making yourself invisible. Perhaps the most useful trick when those love spells don't quite go according to plan! ;-)

All together the spells offer a curious glimpse into the hopes, fears and everyday concerns of people living nearly 170 years ago.

Kári, together with Giorgia Sottotetti, has transformed this forgotten treasure into Hexekver: An Icelandic Farmer’s Little Book of Folk Magic from 1859, complete with an English translation, manuscript photographs and scholarly commentary. (Huge congratulations on bringing this extraordinary manuscript back to life!).

Best of all, the book retains the charmingly tiny format of the original manuscript, seemingly designed to slip easily into a shirt or trouser pocket. After all, you never know when you might need a little magic help!

And what a pleasure it was to host the book presentation here at Bókin, bringing the story full circle, right back to where the little manuscript was first discovered! Seeing so many people gather among our shelves to celebrate this little piece of Icelandic history, now given a whole new life, was truly wonderful.

And after an evening spent talking about love spells and all sorts of magic, it seemed only fitting that, once the last guests had left, Ari and I ended the night with a romantic dinner for two, right at Bókin among the bookshelves. Perhaps those old love spells really work... you never know... ;-)