Discover myths. folklore, fables and legends.Traditional tales often thought to have basis in historical fact.
Myths & Legends Books
Oxford University Press The Owl the Raven and the Dove
Book SynopsisThe fairy tales collected by the brothers Grimm are among the best known and most widely-read stories in western literature. In recent years commentators such as Bruno Bettelheim have, usually from a psychological perspective, pondered the underlying meaning of the stories, why children are so enthralled by them, and what effect they have on the developing child. In this book, Ronald Murphy takes five of the best-known tales (Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty) and shows that the Grimms saw them as Christian fables. Murphy examines the arguments of previous interpreters of the tales, and demonstrates how they missed the Grimms'' intention. His own readings of the five so-called magical tales reveal them as the beautiful and inspiring documents of faith that the Grimms meant them to be. Offering an entirely new perspective on these often-analyzed tales, Murphy''s book will appeal to those concerned with the moral and religious educatioTrade ReviewMurphy had done the Brothers Grimm a great service ... But he has done more than that. He has brought home to us the essentially hospitable nature of the stories ... admirable. The TabletMurphy has added several dazzling layers of meaning to the tales. * First Things *
£37.04
Mandrake of Oxford Merlin's Mound
Book Synopsis
£9.49
McNidder & Grace The Visitor A Christmas Story from the Yorkshire
Book SynopsisEach line of this beautifully crafted Christmas story evokes the rugged countryside that the author loves, the heartlands of the Yorkshire Dales. A moving and charming story to warm our hearts at Christmas time.Trade Review'THE VISITOR is a moving, evocative story that touches on the many aspects of my own experience, those childhood memories of Christmas at my home in the West Riding of Yorkshire'. PATRICK STEWART, actor. 'Chris Simpson is a master storyteller from the heartlands of the Dales. This tale will take you there and will touch your heart.' JAMES HERRIOT, author. 'Chris Simpson is a born storyteller'. DR PETER CLARK
£9.91
Image Comics I Hate Fairyland Book One
Book SynopsisFrom SKOTTIE YOUNG, New york Times Best Selling, Eisner Award winning cartoonist of the Wizard of OZ graphic Novels, Rocket Raccoon, and Fortunately, The Milk comes a satirical fairytale adventure that smashes it’s cute little face against hilariously violent comedy that’s definitely NOT bedtime story material for the kiddies. (unless your parents are super cool and don’t screen your entertainment, then... whatever.) In this oversized DELUXE HARDCOVER, join Gert (a grown woman in a six-year old girl’s body, who has been stuck in a the magical world of Fairyland for over thirty years) on a maddening quest to return home. It’s just her, a fly named Larry, a giant blood-soaked battle-axe and and endless amount of cute and cuddly Fairylanders standing in her way. Collects issues 1-10, along with EXCLUSIVE EXTRAS!Trade ReviewLIBRARY JOURNAL -- Once upon a time, a little girl named Gertrude made a wish to visit Fairyland, a fantasy kingdom filled with magic and the promise of endless adventure. Queen Cloudia, ruler of Fairyland, granted Gertrude's wish and charged her with a quest to retrieve a key that would allow her to return home. Twenty-seven years later, an ageless, immortal Gertrude has been driven mad by her ceaseless wanderings, which are less and less a mission and more of a bloody rampage across the kingdom. Tired of seeing her subjects disemboweled but bound by magical law against doing away with Gertrude herself, Queen Cloudia plots to throw a series of obstacles in her way. Collecting the first ten issues of an ongoing series, this volume opens with Gertrude killing an anthropomorphic moon via cannon and only gets more berserk from there. Creator Young (Rocket Raccoon) has a knack for brutally funny dialog and presents the action in a candy-colored, supercute style, making fountains of blood simultaneously horrifying and a little bit charming.Verdict Gory, endlessly inventive, and often laugh-out-loud funny.-Tom Batten, Grafton, VA
£25.64
Humanoids, Inc The Fire of Theseus
Book SynopsisThe true story of Theseus and the Minotaur. Everyone thinks they know Theseus, the great Hero of Athens. But what legend has retained is merely a web of lies, a fable to hide the truth—a truth that time was not ready to accept... It's time Her story was told.
£15.29
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Mulan: Five Versions of a Classic Chinese Legend,
Book SynopsisThe legend of Mulan--the daughter who disguises herself as a man, dons her father's armor, and heads off to war in his place--remains one of the most popular Chinese folktales despite (or because of) its lack of supernatural demonstrations or interventions.This volume offers lively translations of the earliest recorded version of the legend and several later iterations of the tale (including the screenplay of the hugely successful 1939 Chinese film Mulan Joins the Army), illustrating the many ways that reinterpretations of this basic story reflect centuries of changes in Chinese cultural, political, and sexual attitudes.An Introduction traces the evolution of the Mulan legend and its significance in the history of Chinese popular culture. Annotation explaining terms and references unfamiliar to Western readers, a glossary, and a comprehensive bibliography further enhance the value of this volume for both scholars and students.Trade ReviewIdema's scholarship . . . [and his] ability to translate popular texts into comparably idiomatic English are outstanding achievements.--Hugh R. Clark, Ursinus CollegeThe plots and the elaborations of the Mulan narratives reproduced (and summarized) here demonstrate the many ways in which the Mulan figure has spoken to succeeding generations with differing heroic characteristics and in the idiom that each audience understood; they offer excellent texts for a deep background for any consideration of Mulan in contemporary culture. For scholars of European fairy tales, the narratives offer striking points of comparison with European crossdressing heroines of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries.--Ruth B. Bottigheimer, Stony Brook University
£37.39
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Monks, Bandits, Lovers, and Immortals: Eleven
Book SynopsisThis magnificent collection of eleven early [1250–1450] Chinese plays will give readers a vivid sense of life and a clear understanding of dramatic literature during an extraordinarily eventful period in Chinese history. Not only are the eleven plays in this volume expertly translated into lively, idiomatic English; they are each provided with illuminating, scholarly introductions that are yet fully intelligible to the educated lay reader. A marvelous volume.--Victor Mair, University of PennsylvaniaTrade Review"An exciting new resource for undergraduate teaching. The translated plays were clearly chosen for their literary value as well as their significance to the history of Chinese drama, and each is preceded by an introduction providing its historical context In their lucid introduction, West and Idema describe the historical background of early drama, discussing its urban setting, the theater, the actors, and the sources to trace the transformation of Yuan drama from urban popular performance into an elite reading form by the end of the Ming dynasty". --Kimberly Besio, Colby College, in The Journal of Asian StudiesWest and Idema's Monks, Bandits, Lovers, and Immortals represents a milestone in the reception of early Chinese drama in the West. Not only do the translations of eleven plays take precision, readability, and range to new heights, but the substantial yet accessible Introduction, together with a number of useful appendices, illustrations, and tables, make it the anthology of choice for courses in Chinese literature, world literature, and theater.--Patricia Sieber, Ohio State UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction: Mending a Broken Lineage: Women, Writing, Theology; Fear & Women's Writing: Choosing the Better Part; 'A Wretched Choice?': Evangelical Women & the Word; 'My God Became Flesh': Angela of Foligno Writing the Incarnation; Speaking Funk: Womanist Insights into the Lives of Syncletica & Macrina; 'A Moor of One's Own': Writing & Silence in Sara Maitland's "A Book of Silence"; With Prayer & Pen: Reading Mother E J Dabney's "What It Means to Pray Through"; Writing a Life, Writing Theology: Edith Stein in the Company of the Saints; Writing Hunger on the Body: Simone Weil's Ethic of Hunger & Eucharistic Practice; The Body, to be Eaten, to be Written: A Theological Reflection on the Act of Writing in Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's "Dictee"; Not with One Voice: The Counterpoint of Life, Diaspora, Women, Theology, & Writing; Embodying Theology: Motherhood as Metaphor/Method; Postscript: Wounded Writing / Healing Writing.
£17.09
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Anthology of Classical Myth: Primary Sources in
Book SynopsisThis new edition of Anthology of Classical Myth offers selections from key Near Eastern texts—the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, Epic of Creation (Enuma Elish), and Atrahasis; the Hittite Song of Emergence; and the flood story from the book of Genesis—thereby enabling students to explore the many similarities between ancient Greek and Mesopotamian mythology and enhancing its reputation as the best and most complete collection of its kind.Trade ReviewReview of the first edition: "This book is a treasure-trove. It will be hugely useful to instructors teaching any level of mythology course. Not only does it provide, under one cover, good translations of the two complete books essential to every course (Theogony; Homeric Hymns), but it also offers hundreds of pages of additional primary material. . . . No other book in English offers such a wide range of well-translated and important sources. This will be the perfect complement to courses in myth and ancient civilization, making exploration of the mythic heritage richer and more intellectually exciting for all. . . . The quality of translation is universally high—passages are simple, direct, accurate, yet preserve (as the editors wished) a good sense of the native stylistic variations found in the range of excerpts." —Richard Martin, Stanford UniversityReview of the first edition: "I am astonished by the simplicity of the idea, and, at the same time, the complexity of the effort, that joined to produce this outstanding work . . . the organization is impeccable and the selection is provocative. [An] invaluable contribution to the way we teach Classical myth at the university level." —Monica Cyrino, University of New MexicoReview of the first edition: "I believe any mythology teacher who uses primary texts should order this volume for their classes; I certainly will. While the combination of Hesiod and the Homeric Hymns in one volume is in itself welcome, the addition of Apollodorus, Pausanias, Lucian, and Ovid's Heroides, among many others, should prove irresistible to experienced teachers of myth. . . . The introductory materials are very clear and well presented." —Robin Mitchell-Boyask, Temple University
£28.49
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Anthology of Classical Myth: Primary Sources in
Book SynopsisThis new edition of Anthology of Classical Myth offers selections from key Near Eastern texts—the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, Epic of Creation (Enuma Elish), and Atrahasis; the Hittite Song of Emergence; and the flood story from the book of Genesis—thereby enabling students to explore the many similarities between ancient Greek and Mesopotamian mythology and enhancing its reputation as the best and most complete collection of its kind.Trade ReviewReview of the first edition: "This book is a treasure-trove. It will be hugely useful to instructors teaching any level of mythology course. Not only does it provide, under one cover, good translations of the two complete books essential to every course (Theogony; Homeric Hymns), but it also offers hundreds of pages of additional primary material. . . . No other book in English offers such a wide range of well-translated and important sources. This will be the perfect complement to courses in myth and ancient civilization, making exploration of the mythic heritage richer and more intellectually exciting for all. . . . The quality of translation is universally high—passages are simple, direct, accurate, yet preserve (as the editors wished) a good sense of the native stylistic variations found in the range of excerpts." —Richard Martin, Stanford UniversityReview of the first edition: "I am astonished by the simplicity of the idea, and, at the same time, the complexity of the effort, that joined to produce this outstanding work . . . the organization is impeccable and the selection is provocative. [An] invaluable contribution to the way we teach Classical myth at the university level." —Monica Cyrino, University of New MexicoReview of the first edition: "I believe any mythology teacher who uses primary texts should order this volume for their classes; I certainly will. While the combination of Hesiod and the Homeric Hymns in one volume is in itself welcome, the addition of Apollodorus, Pausanias, Lucian, and Ovid's Heroides, among many others, should prove irresistible to experienced teachers of myth. . . . The introductory materials are very clear and well presented." —Robin Mitchell-Boyask, Temple University
£50.99
Headline Publishing Group How the Marquis Got His Coat Back
A Neverwhere short story from one of the brightest, most brilliant writers of our generation - the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning The Ocean At the End of the Lane. The coat. It was elegant. It was beautiful. It was so close that he could have reached out and touched it.And it was unquestionably his.***'Gaiman's achievement is to make the fantasy world seem true' The Times
£5.02
Checkpoint Press THE Awakening of Navi Septa Book One: The Keys of Wisdom
£14.11
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Silmarillion Illustrated by the Author
Book Synopsis
£56.25
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HarperCollins India Lanka ka Yuddh [War Of Lanka]
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£11.99
St Martin's Press Be Sure
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£16.14
Vitasta Publishing Pvt.Ltd Narayani: True Story Of A Sati
Book SynopsisNarayani: True Story of a Sati takes readers on a captivating journey into the heart of modern-day Rajasthan and Haryana, where the narrative unfolds. . This tale, filled with poignant moments that resonate deeply, offers a captivating blend of history, mystery, and mythology. Through the character of Narayani, Monica Gupta introduces a heroine for our times, weaving an intriguing and inspiring journey that reminds us of the enduring power of legends.
£15.99
Disney Book Publishing Inc. Rick Riordan Presents Paola Santiago and the
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£8.53
Sourcebooks, Inc Radiant Sin
Book SynopsisThere's nowhere more dangerous than Olympus...and no one more captivating than its golden god: Apollo. Keeper of secrets, master of his shining realm...and the only man I am powerless to deny.*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Apollo and Cassandra that's as sinful as it is sweet.*As a disgraced member of a fallen house, Cassandra Gataki has seen firsthand what comes from trusting the venomous Thirteen. But when the maddeningly gorgeous and kind Apollo asks her to go undercover as his plus-one at a week-long party hosted by a dangerous new power player...Cassandra reluctantly agrees to have his back.On one condition: when it's all over, and Apollo has the ammunition he needs to protect Olympus, she and her sister will be allowed to leave. For good.Apollo may be the city's official spymaster, but it's his ability to inspire others that keeps him at the top. Despite what the rest of Olympus says, there's no one he trusts more than Cassandra. Yet even as their fake relationship takes a wicked turn for the scaldingly hot, a very real danger surfaces... threatening not only Cassandra and Apollo, but the very heart of Olympus itself."Deliciously inventive...Red-hot."-Publishers Weekly STARRED Review for Neon Gods"I get shivers just thinking of their interactions. SHIVERS."-Mimi Koehler for The Nerd Daily for Neon GodsThe World of Dark Olympus:Neon Gods (Hades & Persephone)Electric Idol (Eros & Psyche)Wicked Beauty (Achilles & Patroclus & Helen)Radiant Sin (Apollo & Cassandra)
£15.94
Angelico Press Kenogaia (A Gnostic Tale)
£27.50
HarperCollins India War Of Lanka (Ram Chandra Series Book 4)
Book SynopsisA war for Dharma unfolds as Sita is kidnapped, leading to a clash between Ram and Raavan. The epic fourth book of the Ram Chandra Series explores themes of love, grief, and sacrifice amidst the fiery battle for victory and the rise of Vishnu.
£12.74
Scrawny Goat Books Myths and Legends
£19.90
Global Arts Inc. Mihai Eminescu The Legend of the Evening Star Selected Poems Translations by Adrian G Sahlean
£10.44
Soft Skull Press Parade: A Folktale
Book SynopsisA parable about memory, mythic characters, and confessional regrets . . . An ethereal, resonating literary gift (Booklist, starred review) from the internationally bestselling author of Strange Weather in Tokyo.On a summer afternoon, Tsukiko and her former high school teacher have prepared and eaten somen noodles together.“Tell me a story from long ago,” Sensei says.“I wasn’t alive long ago,” Tsukiko says, “but should I tell you a story from when I was little?”“Please do,” Sensei replies, and so Tsukiko tells him that, when she was a child, she awakened one day to find something with a pale red face and something with a dark red face in her room, arguing with each other. They had human bodies, long noses, and wings. They were tengu, creatures that appear in Japanese folktales.The tengu attach themselves to Tsukiko and begin to follow her everywhere. Where did they come from and why are they here? And what other invisible and unacknowledged forces are acting upon Tsukiko’s seemingly peaceful world?
£8.99
Editorial Alma Anna Karenina
Book Synopsis
£22.95
£14.12
HarperCollins Publishers The Prince Frog
Book SynopsisCollins Big Cat supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read. Levelled for guided and independent reading, each book includes ideas to support reading. Teaching and assessment support and eBooks are also available.Prince Francis is going to marry Princess Frieda and everyone in the kingdom is rejoicing.Except Prince Francis. He used to be a frog until the princess kissed him. Now, thanks to her fairy godmother's spell, he's a handsome prince.Only he never asked to be.But if he won't do as he's told, learn his wedding vows and be more princely, everyone he ever loved in the pond could be lostLime/Band 11 books have longer sentence structures and a greater use of literary language.Pages 30 and 31 allow children to re-visit the content of the book, supporting comprehension skills, vocabulary development and recall.Ideas for reading in the back of the book pr
£10.23
Penguin Books Ltd The Nine Cloud Dream
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Man-Jung’s tale is a hypnotic journey, a scholarly, instructive Buddhist bildungsroman set across Tang dynasty China, and in Insu Fenkl’s skilled translation, a glimpse into the rich crossroads of religions and society therein.”—Publishers Weekly
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd The Medusa Frequency
Book Synopsis''Sparkles with classical allusions and a wisecracking humour ... it is pure joy'' Daily TelegraphIt all begins the night a leaflet comes through the door of unsuccessful novelist Herman Orff, promising a magical cure for writer''s block. The strange treatment plunges him into a hallucinatory London dreamworld populated by figures mythical and real: a severed talking head, Vermeer''s girl with a pearl earring, his lost love Luise and, beneath it all, the Kraken awaiting. As Herman will discover, creating art is a tough business.''One of his most accessibly entertaining books'' The Times''Short, smart and fizzy, the novel seeks out the roots of creativity with none of the solemnity that phrase implies'' New StatesmanTrade ReviewShort, smart and fizzy, the novel seeks out the roots of creativity with none of the solemnity that phrase implies. * New Statesman *Entirely captivating. * Time Out *Worth rejoicing in ... a banquet of whimsical delights. Each Russell Hoban book is surprising ... but you also know what you're getting, which is curiosity, wonder and a world-encompassing empathy. -- John Self * The Guardian *
£9.49
The History Press Ltd Suffolk Ghost Tales
Book SynopsisHaunting tales that can be enjoyed by readers time and again
£11.69
The History Press Ltd Dancing with Trees
Book SynopsisRichly illustrated with thirty original drawings, these enchanting tales will appeal to everyone interested in nature and in environmental conservation and will be enjoyed by readers, storytellers and listeners time and again.
£11.69
Ebury Publishing Great Goddesses: Life lessons from myths and
Book SynopsisEmpowering life lessons from myths and monsters. Wonder at Medusa's potent venom, Circe's fierce sorcery and Athena rising up over Olympus, as Nikita Gill majestically explores the untold stories of the life bringers, warriors, creators, survivors and destroyers that shook the world - the great Greek Goddesses. Vividly re-imagined and beautifully illustrated, step into an ancient world transformed by modern feminist magic. 'I watch Girl become Goddessand the metamorphosis is moremagnificent than anythingI have ever known.' Trade ReviewFun, illuminating and will leave you exploring the original legends from a new perspective ... this book is the perfect gift for all the women in your life * Stylist *Nikita Gill's poetry excels in its exploration of womanhood * The Independent *Whether you’re completely clued up on Greek mythology or are a newcomer, Nikita Gill outlines the tales of Medusa, Circe, and Athena, to name a few, in stunningly beautiful prose. This will be one of the most entertaining history lessons you’ve ever had. * Bustle *Nikita’s words are as powerful as they are beautiful. Her poems mix ideas that are both ancient and timeless, and somehow she makes them urgent. Her voice is one of the most compelling, compassionate and creative in contemporary literature. She’s the writer we all need to read right now – she’s challenging a fearful era with real love. -- Daisy BuchananThis empowering collection sheds light on women who are often misunderstood and is a piece of “modern feminist magic.” * BOOKRIOT *
£14.24
Hawthorn Press World Tales for Family Storytelling: 53
Book SynopsisYoung children are natural storytellers. They love both listening to parents telling stories and telling stories themselves. These 53 World Tales for Family Storytelling can be shared at bedtime, on journeys, at parties or around the campfire.Children will find these ready to tell stories are short, simple, and quick to learn. They draw on traditional tales, told in the voice of a storyteller. Parents can read or tell the stories, so children can soon tell the stories themselves. Such oral storytelling builds children's confidence in their unique voices.These wonderful world tales are all selected from the highly acclaimed 147 Traditional Stories for Primary School Children to Retell, a reference book used by teachers around the globe. In this collection for home use, we focus on tales for children aged 4-6. The stories may be read, told and retold and then explored within the family. They offer a rich vein of world heritage, giving your family a doorway into the wonderful world of traditional tales. Enjoy! Chris Smith
£14.39
HarperCollins Publishers The Return of the King The Classic Bestselling
Book SynopsisThe third part of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventureTHE LORD OF THE RINGSThe armies of the Dark Lord are massing as his evil shadow spreads even wider. Men, Dwarves, Elves and Ents unite forces to battle against the Dark. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam struggle further into Mordor in their heroic quest to destroy the One Ring.The devastating conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic tale of adventure, begun in The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers.Trade Review‘The story moves on with a tremendous narrative rush to its climax… extraordinary imaginative work, part saga, part allegory, and wholly exciting.’The Times ‘A triumphant close… a grand piece of work, grand in both conception and execution. An astonishing imaginative tour de force.’Sunday Telegraph ‘His astonishing inventiveness remains to the end and is continued in a series of appendices.;The Guardian
£8.99
Penguin Random House India Tooth and Nail Fur and Scale
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£13.21
Penguin Random House India First Aryan
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£11.16
Goose Lane Editions The Nettle Spinner
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£15.29
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Faith Myth and Reason in Han China
Book Synopsis In his classic study of the cultural history of Han China, Michael Loewe uses both archaeological discoveries and written records to sketch the conceptual background of various artifacts of the Han period, and shows how ancient Chinese thought is as much informed by mythology as it is dependent on reason. Originally published as Chinese Ideas of Life and Death: Faith, Myth and Reason in the Han Period (202 BC-AD 220), this edition includes a new Preface that discusses relevant discoveries made since the first publication and an updated list of other works on relevant topics. Trade Review. . . this is a slight book but one that belies its unpretentious appearance. It is in fact the best introduction available to the cultural background of Han China. --Paul W. Kroll, Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews
£16.14
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Faith Myth and Reason in Han China
Book SynopsisTrade Review. . . this is a slight book but one that belies its unpretentious appearance. It is in fact the best introduction available to the cultural background of Han China. --Paul W. Kroll, Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews
£39.09
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Everyday Life in Early Imperial China
Book SynopsisIn this lively and accessible account, with illustrations on nearly every page, Michael Loewe gives us a vivid picture of the lives of peasants working the land, the lives of town inhabitants, and the elaborate hierarchy of institutions and civil servants that sustained the vast imperial government. In a new Preface and an updated Bibliography, Loewe calls our attention to the significance of scholarly research and discoveries since the original publication of his classic work.
£12.34
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Butterfly Mother
Book SynopsisA collection of epics from the Miao (Hmong) ethnic group of southwest China. The poetic narratives, traditionally performed by two groups of singers, relate the creation of the world and the people and creatures in it. These mythic narratives serves as encyclopedias of traditional myths, legends, and folk customs of the Miao people.Trade ReviewBender has published translations and studies of Chinese minority nationality epics and folktales since the early 1980s. The current volume brings together about 20 Miao (Hmong) epic songs, grouped into six parts: 'Prelude', 'Song of Gold and Silver', 'Song of the Ancient Sweet Gum', 'Song of Butterfly Mother,' 'The Great Flood', and 'Westwards, Upriver'. Historical, geographic, ethnographic, linguistic, and folkloristic introductions help the reader understand the internal logic of the songs and the myths, legends, and folk customs of the Miao. Including ample notes and a selected bibliography, this is a book for those interested in folklore, epics, mythology, and ethnography. Summing up: Recommended. --J. W. Walls, CHOICETalk about 'persistent cultures'--this translation of the great epic, mythic tellings of the Miao/Hmong peoples is a window into a huge ancient soul of sustainable spirit and practice. Mark Bender's commentary provides context and details of places and singers that makes it even richer. This book provides new insights into how deeply oral recitation and performance can be embedded in a whole society, and some fresh, stunning stories. --Gary Snyder, author of Mountains and Rivers Without End
£15.19
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Butterfly Mother
Book Synopsis Butterfly Mother is a collection of epic songs from the rich oral tradition of the Miao (Hmong) people of southwest China. These poetic narratives, traditionally performed by two groups of singers, relate the creation of a world in which everything is alive, and listeners find that besides mountains, rivers, trees, and creatures, inanimate objects are also ''born'' and have spirits. In his engaging introduction, Mark Bender places these mythic narratives in their social and historical context, describing the workings and traditions of Miao society. Brimming with cultural lore, Butterfly Mother is a virtual encyclopedia of time-honored myths, legends, and folk customs of the Miao people. Trade ReviewBender has published translations and studies of Chinese minority nationality epics and folktales since the early 1980s. The current volume brings together about 20 Miao (Hmong) epic songs, grouped into six parts: 'Prelude', 'Song of Gold and Silver', 'Song of the Ancient Sweet Gum', 'Song of Butterfly Mother,' 'The Great Flood', and 'Westwards, Upriver'. Historical, geographic, ethnographic, linguistic, and folkloristic introductions help the reader understand the internal logic of the songs and the myths, legends, and folk customs of the Miao. Including ample notes and a selected bibliography, this is a book for those interested in folklore, epics, mythology, and ethnography. Summing up: Recommended. --J. W. Walls, CHOICETalk about 'persistent cultures'--this translation of the great epic, mythic tellings of the Miao/Hmong peoples is a window into a huge ancient soul of sustainable spirit and practice. Mark Bender's commentary provides context and details of places and singers that makes it even richer. This book provides new insights into how deeply oral recitation and performance can be embedded in a whole society, and some fresh, stunning stories. --Gary Snyder, author of Mountains and Rivers Without End
£35.99
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc The White Snake and Her Son
Book SynopsisA cornerstone of Chinese popular culture, the legend of the White Snake the admirable demon who loves her victim has been continually rewritten, reinterpreted, and readapted for over five hundred years. This title opens a window into the variety of pre-modern Chinese popular literature.Trade ReviewBoth by introducing the legend in such artfully rendered translations and showing its evolution over time, Idema has opened an extraordinary window on traditional Chinese popular culture.In keeping with his record, Idema's scholarship is outstanding. His ability to translate popular texts into comparably idiomatic English is an outstanding achievement. An extremely valuable text for teaching. --Hugh R. Clark, Ursinus CollegeThese are very readable translations . . . [this] book would serve well as a textbook in Chinese folklore or religion classes as well as a sourcebook for the comparativist who knows little or no Chinese. --David Elton Gay, Indiana University, in the Journal of Folklore ResearchThis slim volume actually contains a microcosm of premodern Chinese literature in which we see the growth and transformations of a core theme through several genres. We thereby learn much about the story of White Snake, of course, but this approach also has much to teach us about the nature and dynamics of Chinese popular literature in general--and about the methodology of its study.--Philip Clart, University of Leipzig
£16.14
Orion Publishing Co Maiden Mother Crone
Book SynopsisTurn the page, and step into a stunning, evocative world where nature, magic and fate are inextricably linked, and one wrong - or right - step can take you from the modern world into one filled with both danger and wonder.This beautiful volume contains the award-winning novellas A Pocketful of Crows, The Blue Salt Road and Orfeia. Fully illustrated by Bonnie Helen Hawkins, with a brand new introduction by the author and three original short stories, this is a landmark collection which gloriously reimagines traditional British folktales into a timely, relevant and powerful new stories.''Perfect reading for a chilly autumn evening'' thesenovelthoughts''Stunning and original modern fairytales'' calturnerreviews''Thought-provoking and evocative'' Tor.comTrade ReviewOrfeia is tragic, emotional, beautiful, thought-provoking, moving and poignant * Bookmarks and Stages *This dreamy, melancholy novella is saturated with sacrifice, richness and a sense of layered worlds. * Metro *
£22.50
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform The Violet Fairy Book
£12.88
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform The Diary of a Goose Girl(1902) by Kate Douglas
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£8.43
Focus Publishing/R Pullins & Co Russian Folk Tales: A Reader
Book SynopsisRussian Folk Tales: A Reader is designed for English-speaking students of Russian language and literature. Each of the eight texts, which are graded from simple to more advanced, provides important pieces of original Russian, a glimpse into the culture of Russia through folktales and an understanding of basic and idiomatic grammar. It includes an introduction to the work or genre, vocabulary, and a variety of pedagogical materials to facilitate classroom discussion.
£21.59
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Filial Piety and Its Divine Rewards: The Legend
Book SynopsisOf the many ballads, tales, and plays extolling filial piety (xiao)--the foundational virtue of imperial China--none was more popular in that era than the legend of Dong Yong and his heavenly helpmate, Weaving Maiden. Continually revised and embellished over a millennium, the tale's popularity remains, finding new expression in Chinese film and opera in the twentieth century.The five versions of the legend presented here, alongside a selection of related texts, illustrate changing perceptions of xiao from the tenth century through the first part of the twentieth in a variety of genres. An appendix traces the development of the related legend of Weaving Maiden and Buffalo Boy from myth to folktale.Wilt L. Idema's Introduction traces the evolution of the central legend and its significance in the history of Chinese popular culture. Annotations explaining terms and references that may be unfamiliar to Western readers, a glossary, and a comprehensive bibliography further enhance the value of this book for both scholars and students.Trade ReviewWilt L. Idema is Professor of Chinese Literature, Harvard University.
£36.54
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc The Butterfly Lovers: The Legend of Liang Shanbo
Book SynopsisThe late-imperial legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, the Butterfly Lovers--a story as central to Chinese culture as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is to Western culture--also relates a tale of two lovers help apart by social strictures. To audiences of the many Chinese ballads, plays, and films based on the story, the tragic ending offers proof that equality and happiness can only be achieved in a China freed from the traditional family system.This volume offers translations of the earliest versions of the popular ballad along with later literary reinventions of the tale; a variety of related documents reveal the historical and cultural origins of the legend. In his Introduction, Wilt L. Idema provides essential contextual information and discusses how the story of the Butterfly Lovers fits into modern Chinese concepts of gender roles and sexual freedom.Trade ReviewIdema's scholarship . . . [and his] ability to translate popular texts into comparably idiomatic English are outstanding achievements. --Hugh R. Clark, Ursinus CollegeA judiciously chosen selection of the highlights of the famous Liang-Zhu story cycle with a particular focus on earlier and little-known redactions in a multiplicity of genres. Expertly translated with glosses on cultural items, this volume will prove a boon to the English reader with an interest in the riches of Chinese oral and vernacular culture. Scholars and students of Chinese literature and culture will value this volume for the insight it gives into the emergence and development of the story at key points in the tradition. Teachers of Chinese literature, history, and gender studies too will find much to draw inspiration from in the introduction, the translated stories and the background material presented in this book. --CHINOPERL PapersA significant contribution to our understanding of pre-modern vernacular Chinese literature and the society which it reflects. An informative and insightful study that both specialists and general readers interested in Chinese culture, thanks to accurate and felicitous translations and concise and edifying commentaries, will find a delight to read. --Richard John Lynn, University of Toronto, in The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society
£38.24
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc The Essential Metamorphoses
Book SynopsisThe Essential Metamorphoses, Stanley Lombardo's abridgment of his translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses, preserves the epic frame of the poem as a whole while offering the best-known tales in a rendering remarkable for its clarity, wit, and vigor. While making no pretense of offering an experience comparable to that of reading the whole of Ovid’s self-styled history from the world's first origins down to my own time, this practical and judicious selection of myths at the heart of Roman mythology and literature yet manages to relate many of the most fascinating episodes in that world-historical march toward the Age of Augustus--and is accompanied by an Introduction that deftly sets them in their cosmological, theological, and Augustan contexts.
£10.44
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