From the Vault: The Hearth, Part 2

Brian Hoggard's "Magical House Protection: The Archaeology of Counter Witchcraft" delves into the historical practices and beliefs surrounding home protection against supernatural threats. The book explores the archaeological evidence of protective rituals and objects found in homes across various cultures and time periods. Hoggard examines the significance of these practices within the broader context of folk magic and superstition. The book offers a fascinating insight into the ways in which people historically sought to safeguard their homes and families from unseen dangers. It challenges modern perspectives on magic and superstition by highlighting their enduring presence in human history.

Written in 1934, 'I, Claudius' is a historical novel by Robert Graves that follows the life of Roman Emperor Claudius. The narrative is presented as Claudius' autobiography, detailing the history of the Julio-Claudian dynasty from Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC to Caligula's assassination in AD 41. The book includes the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, and Caligula, and is known for its historical accuracy and fictionalized accounts drawn from Roman historians like Suetonius and Tacitus. Claudius, portrayed as a historian and scholar, documents the intrigues, betrayals, and violence within the imperial family, while also reflecting on his own survival and eventual rise to the throne.

In this 20th Discworld novel, the Hogfather, a mythical creature akin to Father Christmas, has been targeted by the Auditors of Reality. The Auditors hire the Assassin's Guild to eliminate the Hogfather, leading to a series of events where Death takes on the Hogfather's role and his granddaughter Susan Sto Helit embarks on a mission to find and rescue the Hogfather. The story explores themes of belief, tradition, and the importance of mythological figures in maintaining societal balance.