Review of Alexandra Bergholm: From Shaman to Saint: Interpretative Strategies in the Study of Buile Shuibhne

The work by Alexandra Bergholm opens a new chapter in the study of a medieval Irish text Buile Shuibhne. The interpretation of the title is the task that cannot be easily resolved. According to the author, “its title would assign it to the group of buile/baile, usually translated as ‘vision’, ‘prophetic exctasy’ or ‘frenzy’” (p. 51, fn. 43), yet also hinting at a view that the title “should be taken to refer to a vision or ‘revelation of the otherworld’ (baile) rather than madness or frenzy” (p. 160, fn. 180).