Footreading, also known as "solestry" (coined from sole, on the analogy of palmistry), is a method of divination by means of the foot. It involves the observation and interpretation of foot structure, skin (e.g., texture, blemishes, pigmentation) and toe nails, which are believed to reflect a person's emotions or character.[1]

The reading of feet as a measure of character grew in popularity in the Victorian era in part due to the popularity of the novel Trilby, which featured a character notable for having beautiful feet.[2]

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References

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  1. ^ Bosmia, Anand N.; Bosmia, Arpan N.; Tubbs, R. S. (2017-10-01). "The Foot-Reading Cult of Japan". Journal of Religion and Health. 56 (5): 1600–1604. doi:10.1007/s10943-013-9736-8. ISSN 0022-4197. PMID 23744366. S2CID 22386537.
  2. ^ "Trilbymania: How a Victorian Novel Became a Viral Sensation in 19th-Century America | Readex". www.readex.com. Retrieved 2024-10-05.

Further reading

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