The Werewolves of St. Claude

<p>The Werewolves of St. Claude: The Gandillon Trials (1598)</p><p>In 1598 the remote mountain district of St. Claude France was terrorized by a family of werewolves whose crimes would become one of the most thoroughly documented cases of lycanthropy in European history. Matthieu Renard a young schoolmaster witnessed and recorded the entire tragedy-from the brutal attack on two children gathering strawberries to the systematic trials conducted by the relentless Judge Henri Boguet.</p><p>Through Matthieu's detailed first-person account we follow the investigation of the Gandillon family: Pierre who made a desperate pact with demons to protect his sheep; his son Georges corrupted at age twelve; his sister Perrenette driven mad by her affliction; and Antoinette who embraced her diabolical powers without remorse. The chronicle documents their confessions of transformation using mysterious salves attendance at black sabbaths and the murder of numerous victims-particularly children.</p><p>Matthieu treats the supernatural elements as historical fact providing practical guides for recognizing werewolves describing the mechanics of transformation and defending Judge Boguet's harsh but effective methods. His narrative culminates in the executions and the immediate complete cessation of attacks-which he presents as empirical proof that the threat was real and its destruction necessary. A chilling testament to faith fear and the price of justice in an age when monsters walked as men.</p><p><br> </p>