The Book of Luck

Never walk under a ladder or cut your nails on a Sunday — but be on the lookout for four-leaved shamrocks and piebald horses! This quaint book from the turn of the twentieth century holds a wealth of folkloric advice for recognizing good and bad omens. In addition, it offers all the tools of the trade for aspiring fortune-tellers, including tips for the interpretation of dreams and using playing cards to forecast the future. A detailed section on palmistry explains the significance of the shapes of fingers, the lines of destiny, and the determination of such characteristics as ability, ambition, and wit. Other chapters explore handwriting analysis, astrology, reading tea leaves, crystal gazing, choosing lucky numbers and talismans, and superstitions related to animals, flowers, and seasons.