Myths & Legends Books

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Book SynopsisA first-person retelling of the story of Iolo Morganwg from his boyhood to the Glynogwr Gorsedd of 1798. Iolo Morganwg had many faces: stonemason, self-taught scholar, poet, hymnist, politician, patriot, revolutionary, druid, failed businessman, drug addict, campaigner for human rights and perpetrator of the greatest act of literary forgery in European history.

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Book SynopsisHistorical novel Nanteos - The Dipping Pool is both prequel and sequel to The Shadow of Nanteos, continuing the story of the infamous Powell family of Nanteos mansion and of the violent, secretive world of 18th-century Cardiganshire. It is visceral and hard-hitting, exploring life in the mansions and mines of the Wild West of Wales.

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Book SynopsisRead Regional 2019 – ‘Discover brilliant Northern writers’Aidan Wilson’s misfortune is to be hard as nailsIn this darkly hilarious and seriously horrifying book Williams tells the story of Aidan, a vigilante and young offender from one of Sheffield’s roughest estates. At breakneck speed, we see Aidan’s world unravel as he goes from hero to outlaw, fighting against all-comers and the circumstances he can’t escape. But is he a victim or architect of his own demise? A brutal and breathtaking account of living with violence in the English city.There are lots of crime novels, but Nutcase is something different: a novel about crime which isn’t interested in the conventions of crime fiction. The novel is based on a specific Icelandic saga: the Saga of Grettir the Strong.Nutcase explores the lives of people who live with violence on a day-to-day basis – how it shapes and distorts their lives, and ultimately becomes part of the normality that they live with.Trade ReviewA brutal, funny and heart-rending book, it hurtles towards its fate with unremitting pace, energy and cheek. -- Isy SuttieThis is a brutal book. Upon closing the last page, I felt like I had been hit by a truck. But it’s one I’d recommend to anyone. At least, anyone over the age of 18. I hope Williams has more up of this superb writing up his sleeve for us. And maybe next time I’ll figure out how he manages it. * Murder Underground Broke The Camel's Back *This novel by Tony Williams is completely magnificent. It's based on the Icelandic saga of Grettir the Strong and is set on a housing estate in Sheffield. It's horrifyingly, scabrously funny. It's one of the most distinctive and addictively readable prose voices I've encountered since Magnus Mills. If there was any justice it would be as big as Trainspotting. -- Luke KennardRead of the fortnight: Nutcase by Tony WilliamsAidan is a violent thug, but also has a heartbreaking gentleness. We rattle through the plot at 100mph, but everything is described in vivid detail. Everything is ugly and sordid, but everything is captivating and beautiful. And this is achieved seamlessly. Nutcase is one of those books that feels effortless; so natural that you don’t see the brushstrokes behind the masterpiece. I keep going back to reread sections to see how he pulls it off, and I’m honestly still not sure. But I do know that Williams is a writer on fire. There’s no escaping the fact that this is a brutal book. -- Anna Craig * Sheffield Telegraph *A powerful, if disturbing, book that will remain with you long after you finish it. * Blue Book Balloon *One of the most remarkable things about the novel is that it never loses momentum. This isn't easy when one is essentially describing the lives of a bunch of druggie layabouts; it's a milieu that can soon become a deadly bore. That it does not is both a tribute to the author's handling of pace and a vindication of his choice of style; the saga-form really does suit the material. -- Sheenagh Pugh

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Book SynopsisWhen curious nomad Anna hears about Whisperwood, a town that’s not on any maps, that nobody goes to, and nobody comes from, she sees an opportunity to hide from her violent witch-hunting ex. But not everything is peaceful in the isolated community. A vanishing town, a gruesome funeral rite, an emergency field surgery—these surprises and more test Anna's resolve. Prevented from leaving the frontier settlement by folk magic she doesn’t understand, Anna lends helping hands everywhere she can, but quickly finds that investigating the forest too closely could end up being the last thing she does. FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePressTrade Review‘Modern horror done right, with gorgeous writing, moody overtones and a pace that keeps you turning pages well past your bedtime…a new face of horror has arrived.’ Mike James, author of the Hotel at the End of Time series ‘Dark, but also achingly heartfelt, clever, and funny.’ Lauren Bolger, author of Kill Radio

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Book SynopsisWhen curious nomad Anna hears about Whisperwood, a town that’s not on any maps, that nobody goes to, and nobody comes from, she sees an opportunity to hide from her violent witch-hunting ex. But not everything is peaceful in the isolated community. A vanishing town, a gruesome funeral rite, an emergency field surgery—these surprises and more test Anna's resolve. Prevented from leaving the frontier settlement by folk magic she doesn’t understand, Anna lends helping hands everywhere she can, but quickly finds that investigating the forest too closely could end up being the last thing she does. FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePressTrade Review‘Modern horror done right, with gorgeous writing, moody overtones and a pace that keeps you turning pages well past your bedtime…a new face of horror has arrived.’ Mike James, author of the Hotel at the End of Time series ‘Dark, but also achingly heartfelt, clever, and funny.’ Lauren Bolger, author of Kill Radio

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Book SynopsisWhat if the Evil Queen poisoned the prince? Following her beloved mother's death, the kingdom falls to Snow White's stepmother, known as the Evil Queen. At first, Snow keeps her head down, hoping to make the best of things. However, when new information about her parents comes to light, and a plot to kill her goes wrong, Snow embarks on a journey to stop the Evil Queen and take back her kingdom. Can Snow defeat an enemy who will stop at nothing to retain power... including going after the ones Snow loves?This audiobook is an mp3-CD edition

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Book SynopsisCommissioned especially for Scotland’s Year of Stories, Saut an Bluid offers an inspired blend of traditional storytelling with historical fiction to tell this tale that links Scotland and Norway’s pasts together. In nine days of drama, the full smeddum of Scotland’s Norse saga unfolds in pithy Scots. As Guid King Alexander tumbles to his death, a gutsy backstory comes to the boil. And at the heart of the crisis is Skald the Ferryman, storyteller of Pittenweem. What is his connection with the Maid of Norway, and the Corryvreckan whirlpool?Trade Review‘His deep knowledge of history, myth, story, religion, landscape and literature means that he has much real richness to draw on.’ – TESSA RANSFORD Founding Director of the Scottish Poetry Library.‘Delves into the City of Literature and comes out dark side up.’ – MARC LAMBERT, CEO of the Scottish Book Trust.

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Book SynopsisCounty Carlow, where stood Dinn Righ, the seat of the ancient kings of Leinster, is steeped in history, myth and legend which is celebrated in this selection of traditional tales from across the county, collected and retold by local storytellers Aideen McBride and Jack Sheehan. This selection will take you on an oral tour across the county and introduce you to such Carlow characters as Peter Nail, the ‘Weight Thrower from Ratheaden’; Beauchamp Bagenal, the ‘handsomest man in Ireland’; and St Finnian, the ‘Teacher of the Saints’. You will discover how the Barrow River got its name, who threw the standing stone of Clonee, the dangers of digging for gold in the ‘raths’ and how Teresa Malone became the Heroine of Kilcumney. And on the way you will encounter fairies, witches and giants – as well as bouncing puddings and giant potatoes.

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Book SynopsisCounty Kilkenny abounds in folk tales, myths and legends and a selection of the best, drawn from historical sources and newly recorded local reminiscence, have been brought to life here by local storyteller Anne Farrell. Kilkenny is the place where, legend has it, St Evin and St Molin once had to have their dispute settled by a shoal of fish; where the infamous Countess of Ormond brought fear and terror to the people of Grannagh; and where an imprudent local man decided to find out if the supposedly bottomless ‘Kerry holes’ would live up to their reputation. It is also said to be the home of a plethora of strange and magical creatures and stories abound of encounters with fairies, ghosts, banshees, shape-shifters and an army of cats who fought an epic battle near Dunmore Caves. From age-old legends and fantastical myths, to amusing anecdotes and cautionary tales, this collection is a heady mix of bloodthirsty, funny, passionate and moving stories. It will take you into a remarkable world where you can let your imagination run wild.

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Book SynopsisFermanagh's culture, heritage, characters and stories set it apart from the rest of the world. Every mountain, tree, lake, stream, rock, stone and character tells a tale. There are the strange stories of mythical creatures, such as the Shining Folk that lurk under the surface of Lough Erne, and the fairies that taught the unruly wee Meg Barnileg a lesson. There are spooky tales of the Cooneen poltergeist that haunted the Murphy family and the ghost of Belleek Pottery. And there are the ‘pants’, or tall tales, that the locals love to retell, such as the stories about ‘educated’ Irish pigs who understood three languages, talking horses or the pike who went ‘fishing’ for squirrels. All these stories and more are featured in this unique collection which will take you deep into the heart of this historic county.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Votan - 'Probably the best book ever done about the Norse,' says Neil Gaiman - comes a gripping new retelling in the Arthurian cycle by a masterful storyteller.Gwenevere, Arthur's Saxon wife, is a problem. As the dynastic cement between the British and the Saxons, her marriage to Arthur will result in a child that will unite both sides. At least, that would have been the plan, had the Great Duke Arthur not died (accidentally and not at all heroically) and left the petty kings of Britain to squabble over his title.Only Morvran, Arthur's chief fixer, has the wit to see that the Fourth Gwenevere is the key to maintaining a crumbling peace. But when she is abducted, it seems that all hopes might disappear with her.For, in a world where swords and horses have names of honour, where poets speak as oracles of a shifting truth and the raiding of Saxon warriors is set to ruin Britain, perhaps it's only the Fourth Gwenevere herself who has the real solution?This edition contains bonus material!Trade ReviewA wonderful, different and unfamiliar take on Arthurian legend . . . a pretty awesome read that comes recommended. * FICTIONAL HANGOUT *The greatest historical novelist of my time * BYRON ROGERS, winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize *Crackles with atmosphere and splendidly imaginative writing * GUARDIAN on Not for All the Gold in Ireland *Probably the best book ever done about the Norse * NEIL GAIMAN on Votan *A novel of stark imaginative fire * THE OBSERVER on Men went to Cattreath *An imagination as rich as it is vivid * THE TIMES on Votan *A first-rate historical novelist * OXFORD TIMES *Rich and fascinating and intense * WESTERN MAIL on Men went to Cattreath * Mr James writes with immense gusto * DAILY TELEGRAPH on Votan *Full of exuberance and colourful fantasy * MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS on Not for All the Gold in Ireland *A lovely book. Its story is suitably adventurous and exciting and for anyone with the slightest interest in the Matter of Britain this entertaining tale is recommended reading * A FANTASTICAL LIBRARIAN *A gripping tale of treachery, bloodshed, and plague . . . Morvran is like a fantasy equivalent of Breq, the starship narrator of Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice (this year's Hugo Award winner). Readers who enjoyed puzzling their way through that tale of slaughter will find much to enjoy here * AMAZING STORIES *

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Book Synopsis"Brainheart" is a collection of fifty eulogies celebrating great innovators; from politicians and inventors to architects and musicians, all of Scottish heritage. Composed in a style that Paraig calls 'metrical mirror,' the verses emulate heroic verse in a new voice that combines English with Scots in an authentic and engaging manner.

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Book SynopsisIce Land is an epic tale of forbidden love infused with the rich history and mythology of Iceland.Trade ReviewNot just a good story, but one of the greatest - beautifully told. * The Times *Tobin combines the sensuality of Angela Carter with a profound feeling for a violent unstable and fascinating landscape... this world pulses with subversion and unexpected passion. * Saturday Telegraph *Tobin's novels are dark and bloody, sensual and mythic. They are also set in a past that, thanks to her skill at inhabiting her characters, seems often more immediate than the world around us... * Observer *A lyrically written epic inspired by the beauty and history of that island, and the rich world of Norse mythology that infuses it... * Sunday Telegraph *Triumphant * Time Out *

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Book SynopsisFrom bold heroines to clan battles, standing stones to castles, there is hardly any aspect of Scotland’s heritage that does not feature in our storytelling traditions. This collection of stories from all parts of Scotland, and from all periods of our dramatic – and often truly heroic – history is both an introduction to and a journey into Scotland’s rich cultural heritage. Covering the same themes as Disney-Pixar’s new fairytale film, Brave, this book provides the next step for those wishing to delve deeper into Scotland’s culture and traditions.Trade ReviewWith its captivating and often gruesome tales of heroic warriors in battle, bold heroines, deceitful aristocracy, and supernatural creatures this is a journey into the cultural heritage of a nation. SCOTTISH REVIEW OF BOOKS Scotland the Brave exposes the beating heart of Scottish storytelling. EDINBURGH LIFE Sept/Oct 2012 Stuart McHardy’s new collection of tales beautifully renders the mythology that has flourished in the oral tradition, alongise and in response to Scotland’s awe-inspiring natural landscape. EDINBURGH LIFE Sept/Oct 2012

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Book SynopsisEdinburgh Castle is one of Scotland's most awe-inspiring and striking landmarks. A site of human habitation since the 9th century BC, it has a rich and varied history and has been a crucial strategic military site for thousands of years. A new title in the popular 'Luath Storyteller' series, Tales of Edinburgh Castle is a salute tk the ancient tradition of storytelling, painting a vivid picture of the castle in bygone times, and the rich and varied characters to whom it owes its notoriety.Trade Review.

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Book SynopsisWhen we are born, we cry that we have come to this stage of fools William Shakespeare, King Lear  In this extraordinary novel, Des Dillon mixes familiar with surreal to explore the dark side of humanity''s soul.  Jane Eyre, beloved heroine of Charlotte Bronte''s novel, finds herself alone and lost on a stormbound moor. Her only hope comes when she finally stumbles across two men trying to find shelter. There''s only one problem, they claim to be King Lear and his faithful fool.  Thinking the old man insane, Jane tries to convince him that King Lear is a fictional character while, in turn, Lear thinks Jane is a madwoman. But there''s more to Fool than first appears. Using his powers, he catapults them through the play of King Lear at terrifying speed.  Frightened and bewildered, Jane assumes she is caught up in some kind of nightmare or psychological fugue and sets about trying to avert the tragedy of Cordelia''s death. At every turn, their every plan goes horribly wrong causing Cordelia''s character to darken more and more so that she degenerates into the foulest of Shakespearean tyrants. Forget saving Cordelia''s life! Can Jane, Lear and the Fool find a way to save Cordelia''s soul and thus their own?  

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Book SynopsisAbove the peaks of the Himalaya, Garuda, the divine eagle of the God Vishnu, sees the Lord of Death hastening towards an exquisitely beautiful little bird. He decides to save it, and hides the bird away - but can death be cheated? A haunting parable of love and destiny, printed and bound by hand, and illustrated in the delicate and ornamental Patachitra tradition of Orissa in eastern India.Trade ReviewThis spare retelling of an ancient parable from India serves as an ideal complement to the ornate, jewel-like circular paintings. Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisWhile some religious texts may remain static over time, the "Ramayana" epic has been retold in a variety of ways over the centuries and across South Asia. This collection brings together re-tellings translated from the four major South Indian languages and from genres as diverse as drama, short stories, poetry, and folk song.Trade ReviewOn the surface. . . it might appear challenging for an anthology of Ramayana Stories in Modern South India to tell us something new about the epic. This is, however, precisely what Paula Richman has been able to do through this lively and engaging volume. . . . The translations . . . are lucid and of consistently high quality. . . . The utility of this book for active undergraduate learning cannot be overstated. August, 2011 * H-Asia *. . . Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty interested in South Asian literature and religion. March 2009 * Choice *A refreshing addition to the scholarly and literary works in Indic studies. . . . The organization of the book successfully fulfills the needs of all who are interested in learning more about Indian society, its literature and culture, and about Ramayana. One does not need to be familiar with Ramayana or Ramkatha to appreciate this book. . . . Richman's work is an excellent study with a rich selection of writings and viewpoints on the ancient epic Ramayana. All of the works featured in the book are thought provoking and reach out to readers and scholars in a variety of disciplines, including but not limited to the fields of folklore, anthropology, women's studies, comparative literature, film, and theater.February 16, 2010 * Journal of Folklore Research *Table of ContentsContentsPreface: On Compiling Ramayana Stories in Modern South Indian LanguagesAcknowledgmentsNote on Transliteration and TranslationIntroduction: Whose Ramayana Is It?Part 1. Sita in ContextIntroduction1. Asking Sita: The Questions Return, by Vijaya Dabbe Translated from Kannada by Shashi Deshpande and Pratibha Nandakumar2. Sartorial Dilemmas: Letters from Lady Sita, by Kumudini Translated from Tamil by Paula Richman3. A Mother-in-Law's Support: Sita Locked Out, a women's folksong Translated from Telugu by Velcheru Narayana Rao4. Sita's Powers: Do You Accept My Truth, My Lord? a women's folksong Translated from Kannada by Leela Prasad5. Talking Back: Sita Enters the Fire, by Gudipati Venkata Chalam Translated from Telugu by Sailaza Easwari Pal6. The Pensive Queen: Sita Immersed in Reflection, by Kumaran Asan Translated from Malayalam by Rizio Yohannan Raj7. Choosing Music: Forest (excerpt), by Ambai Translated from Tamil by Lakshmi Holmstrom8. Forest of Possibilities: Reunion, by Volga Translated from Telugu by Krishna Rao Maddipati9. Union with Nature: Prakriti and Sovereignty in Aravindan's Kanchana Sita Film analysis by Usha Zacharias10. Struggling with an Ideal: In the Shadow of Sita, by Lalitha Lenin Translated from Malayalam by Rizio Yohannan RajPart 2. Stigmatized CharactersIntroduction11. Transforming a Brahmin: Shudra Tapasvi (excerpt), by Kuppalli Venkata Puttappa Translated from Kannada by Girish Karnad and K. Marulasiddappa12. Shambuka's Story Anew: Basavalingaiah Re-presents Shudra Tapasvi Performance essay by Paula Richman13. Ahalya Later: Woman of Stone, by K. B. Sreedevi Translated from Malayalam by Gita Krishnankutty14. Consequences of a Misdeed: Deliverance from the Curse, by Pudumaippittan Translated from Tamil by Lakshmi Holmstrom15. The Nature of Stone: Ahalya, by S. Sivasekaram Translated from Tamil by Lakshmi Holmstrom16. Domestic Abuse and the Neurologist: Ahalya, by N. S. Madhavan Translated from Malayalam by Rizio Yohannan RajPart 3. So-called DemonsIntroduction17. Gender Reversal: The Horns of the Horse, by C. Subramania Bharati Translated from Tamil by Paula Richman18. Male Rivalry and Women: Shurpanakha's Sorrow, by Kavanasarma Translated from Telugu by Alladi Uma and M. Sridhar19. Marriage Offers: Mappila Ramayana of Hassankutty ("the Mad"), collected by M. N. Karassery from T. H. Kunhiraman Nambiar Translated from Malayalam by [John] Rich[ardson] Freeman20. Sita Creates Ravana: Portrait Ramayana (excerpt), by H. S. Venkatesha Murthy Translated from Kannada by Manu Shetty21. Ravana's Letter from Heaven: Come Unto Me, Janaki, by K. Satchidanandan Translated from Malayalam by Rizio Yohannan RajEpilogue: Meta-narrative22. Everyone Has Anxieties: Lakshmana's Laugh, a women's folksong Translated from Telugu by Velcheru Narayana RaoGlossaryBibliographyList of ContributorsIndex

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Book SynopsisPresents a glimpse into Chinese folk literature through translated verses secretly written by the oppressed village women of Hunan, who bravely scribed their stories, in their own words.Trade Review"A valuable addition to contemporary scholarship of Chinese literature, especially regarding studies of Chinese peasant women and changben. . . . Heroines of Jiangyong serves as an excellent point of departure for exploring rural women's complex lifeworlds . . ." -- Fei-wen * Nan Nu *"The book represents a significant contribution to Chinese history, language, and culture, as well as to global literature and women's studies." -- Jeana DelRosso * Feminist Formations *"The book provides a wealth of comparative thematic, topical, and motif material for folklorists, ethnographers, and anthropologists, and is highly recommended." -- James H. Grayson * Folklore *"Heroines of Jiangyong provides a paradigm for Chinese feminists to better understand and recognize the hidden tensions of traditionally imposed gender roles in China in order to move toward gender equality." * On the Issues *"Idema brings a sensitive literary perspective to nushu texts. The result is a set of translations through which, it is easy to believe, the Jiangyong women's voices may be heard . . . . The Heroines of Jiangyong is a valuable contribution to English language studies of nushu." * Journal of Folklore Research *"… provide fascinating glimpses into the trials and tribulations, as well as the ideals and aspirations, of rural women… the protagonists of these ballads, while they may weep, lament and wail, also shout and curse and scold and, for the most part, do indeed emerge as 'heroines'… translations such as these… should be especially welcomed by those who teach China in the classroom. For the language of these ballads, deftly conveyed by Idema's translations, is lively, earthy and often… refreshingly vivid." * The China Quarterly *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Women's Script Part One | Moral Tracts 1. Admonitions for My Daughter 2. The Ten Months of Pregnancy 3. The Family Heirloom 4. The Lazy Wife Part Two | Narrative Ballads 5. The Tale of Third Sister 6. The Daughter of the Xiao Family 7. Lady Luo 8. The Maiden Meng Jiang 9. The Flower Seller 10. The Demonic Carp 11. The Karmic Affinity of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai 12. Fifth Daughter Wang Notes Chinese Character Glossary Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe story of The White Snake is one of the ""four great narratives"" of China and yet it is almost unknown in the West. The Global White Snake is a major, accessible contribution to our knowledge of the story, its traditional interpretations and its importance throughout history.Table of Contents Acknowledgements List of Figures Chapter 1. Introduction to White Snake Legends Gender and Species, Media and Politics Metamorphoses and Regenerations Legends of the White Snake The Power of Transmigration Aspirations in the Remaking of the Legends Theoretical Implications Part I. White Snake at the Turn of the Twentieth Century Chapter 2. The White Snake Problem versus The White Snake Industry The White Snake Problem Inspirations from Kentucky Mystery of the White Snake Hangchow, the “City of Heaven” The White Snake Industry New White Snake Performances, 1870s to 1920s The Popularity of jingju, tanci, and yueju Stage Performance, Urban Gossip, Print Culture, and Intellectual Lamentations Sounding the White Snake: Shaping New Media, New Practice, and New Sensibilities Rong Stage Dominates White Snake Performances Concluding Remarks: The Fall of the Pagoda and the Burning of the Monastery Chapter 3. Fall of the Pagoda and Rise of the White Snake: Visualization and Canonization Fall of the Pagoda and the Visualization of a Vanished Past Bricks, Scriptures, and Visuality: Relics from and Memories of the Thunder Peak Legend, Art Photography, and War Drawing: Timely Journalism and Chinese Popular Imagination Shadows of the Pagoda: Coming to Terms with the Fall through Visual and Textual Representations The Rise of the White Snake and Canonization of “The White Snake Modern” Lu Xun’s Verdict and The Righteous Snake on the Silver Screen The Pagoda in the Film Concluding Remarks: The White Snake Modern Part II Profound Humanity of the Nonhuman during the Cold War Chapter 4. The White Snake Legend in Postwar Japanese Cinema Exquisite Paradise and Forbidden Love in Mizoguchi’s Ugetsu Between Light and Shadow: Infinite Shades of Gray Sound and Look of a Lady Wakasa Film: Pottery, Water, and Mutual Enchantment White Pearl, Red Scarf, and “The Witchcraft of Love” in Byaku fujin no yoren Red Scarf, Manifested Desire, and Significance of Color Special Effects and Technologies of the “Witchcraft of Love” From Hong Kong to Southeast Asia Flowers, Animals, and Humans: Animating the White Snake Legend in Hakujaden From Live-action to Animation “Disney of the East” and Connections between China and Japan Concluding Remarks: A Token of Love Chapter 5. Reconfiguring the White Snake in Korean Cinema in an Inter-Asian Context Sino-Korean Cinematic Connections Shin Sang-ok and the 1960 Madam White Snake The Shadow of Ugetsu and Holding Hands at First Sight Dance to Seduce and Lovers’ Chat in a Moonlit Garden Mutual Love and Devotion, and the Humanity of the Nonhuman Humanity Aided by Special Effects Shin’s Forgotten Second Attempt at a “White Snake” Film: Snake Woman in 1969 A Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan Coproduction? Love of the White Snake in 1978 The Taiwan Connection in the Context of a Hong Kong-Singapore Cinematic Matrix Concluding Remarks: The Korean Connection in an Inter-Asian Context Part III. The Specter of the Past in Contemporary Popular Culture Chapter 6. Dancing White Snake, Writing Green Snake: Reconfiguring the Legend in Mainland China and Hong Kong Writing and Dancing, the Text and the Body The Expressiveness of the Hybrid Body and the Iconoclasm of the Green Snake Writing Women of China A Dancing White Snake: Centered on the “Untold Stories” Writing, Dancing, and the Cultural Revolution as Memory and Imagination Concluding Remarks: Lingering Echoes Chapter 7. The White Snake Legend in the United States in the Twenty-First Century: Opera, Drama, and Digital Video From Chinese Legend to Pulitzer-Prize Winning Western Opera: Madame White Snake Green Snake the Storyteller Righteousness against Love, Truth against Freedom The Singaporean and Mainland Chinese Origins The Powers and Possibilities of Mary Zimmerman’s The White Snake The Wuzhen Experience More Inspirations from Kentucky Students A Female Writer of Socialist China: Zhao Qingge and Her 1956 Novel The CTC Production in Washington D. C. Poetry, Photography, and Fashion: Digital Challenges from Indrani Chapter 8. Nothing Ever Dies: The Eternal Bodies of the White Snake Korean Webtoon Lady White and Her Afterlife in Chinese The Return of the Powerful Hybrid in the 2019 Internet Drama Legend of White Snake Queering an Icon, Becoming a Demon in the 2019 Animation White Snake: The Legend Begins Everlasting Bodily Memory: From the 1992 New Legend of Madame White Snake to the 2016 Star of Tomorrow The Bodies of the Green Snake and the White Snake Concluding Remarks: The Multiplicity and Openness of the Eternal Bodies of the Snake Women Notes Selected Chronological List of White Snake Texts Selected Bibliography Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisThe story of The White Snake is one of the ""four great narratives"" of China and yet it is almost unknown in the West. The Global White Snake is a major, accessible contribution to our knowledge of the story, its traditional interpretations and its importance throughout history.Table of Contents Acknowledgements List of Figures Chapter 1. Introduction to White Snake Legends Gender and Species, Media and Politics Metamorphoses and Regenerations Legends of the White Snake The Power of Transmigration Aspirations in the Remaking of the Legends Theoretical Implications Part I. White Snake at the Turn of the Twentieth Century Chapter 2. The White Snake Problem versus The White Snake Industry The White Snake Problem Inspirations from Kentucky Mystery of the White Snake Hangchow, the “City of Heaven” The White Snake Industry New White Snake Performances, 1870s to 1920s The Popularity of jingju, tanci, and yueju Stage Performance, Urban Gossip, Print Culture, and Intellectual Lamentations Sounding the White Snake: Shaping New Media, New Practice, and New Sensibilities Rong Stage Dominates White Snake Performances Concluding Remarks: The Fall of the Pagoda and the Burning of the Monastery Chapter 3. Fall of the Pagoda and Rise of the White Snake: Visualization and Canonization Fall of the Pagoda and the Visualization of a Vanished Past Bricks, Scriptures, and Visuality: Relics from and Memories of the Thunder Peak Legend, Art Photography, and War Drawing: Timely Journalism and Chinese Popular Imagination Shadows of the Pagoda: Coming to Terms with the Fall through Visual and Textual Representations The Rise of the White Snake and Canonization of “The White Snake Modern” Lu Xun’s Verdict and The Righteous Snake on the Silver Screen The Pagoda in the Film Concluding Remarks: The White Snake Modern Part II Profound Humanity of the Nonhuman during the Cold War Chapter 4. The White Snake Legend in Postwar Japanese Cinema Exquisite Paradise and Forbidden Love in Mizoguchi’s Ugetsu Between Light and Shadow: Infinite Shades of Gray Sound and Look of a Lady Wakasa Film: Pottery, Water, and Mutual Enchantment White Pearl, Red Scarf, and “The Witchcraft of Love” in Byaku fujin no yoren Red Scarf, Manifested Desire, and Significance of Color Special Effects and Technologies of the “Witchcraft of Love” From Hong Kong to Southeast Asia Flowers, Animals, and Humans: Animating the White Snake Legend in Hakujaden From Live-action to Animation “Disney of the East” and Connections between China and Japan Concluding Remarks: A Token of Love Chapter 5. Reconfiguring the White Snake in Korean Cinema in an Inter-Asian Context Sino-Korean Cinematic Connections Shin Sang-ok and the 1960 Madam White Snake The Shadow of Ugetsu and Holding Hands at First Sight Dance to Seduce and Lovers’ Chat in a Moonlit Garden Mutual Love and Devotion, and the Humanity of the Nonhuman Humanity Aided by Special Effects Shin’s Forgotten Second Attempt at a “White Snake” Film: Snake Woman in 1969 A Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan Coproduction? Love of the White Snake in 1978 The Taiwan Connection in the Context of a Hong Kong-Singapore Cinematic Matrix Concluding Remarks: The Korean Connection in an Inter-Asian Context Part III. The Specter of the Past in Contemporary Popular Culture Chapter 6. Dancing White Snake, Writing Green Snake: Reconfiguring the Legend in Mainland China and Hong Kong Writing and Dancing, the Text and the Body The Expressiveness of the Hybrid Body and the Iconoclasm of the Green Snake Writing Women of China A Dancing White Snake: Centered on the “Untold Stories” Writing, Dancing, and the Cultural Revolution as Memory and Imagination Concluding Remarks: Lingering Echoes Chapter 7. The White Snake Legend in the United States in the Twenty-First Century: Opera, Drama, and Digital Video From Chinese Legend to Pulitzer-Prize Winning Western Opera: Madame White Snake Green Snake the Storyteller Righteousness against Love, Truth against Freedom The Singaporean and Mainland Chinese Origins The Powers and Possibilities of Mary Zimmerman’s The White Snake The Wuzhen Experience More Inspirations from Kentucky Students A Female Writer of Socialist China: Zhao Qingge and Her 1956 Novel The CTC Production in Washington D. C. Poetry, Photography, and Fashion: Digital Challenges from Indrani Chapter 8. Nothing Ever Dies: The Eternal Bodies of the White Snake Korean Webtoon Lady White and Her Afterlife in Chinese The Return of the Powerful Hybrid in the 2019 Internet Drama Legend of White Snake Queering an Icon, Becoming a Demon in the 2019 Animation White Snake: The Legend Begins Everlasting Bodily Memory: From the 1992 New Legend of Madame White Snake to the 2016 Star of Tomorrow The Bodies of the Green Snake and the White Snake Concluding Remarks: The Multiplicity and Openness of the Eternal Bodies of the Snake Women Notes Selected Chronological List of White Snake Texts Selected Bibliography Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisJack becomes a trickster who must deliver England from the hands of three ogres after a failed government inquiry. In this book, the tales expose social anxieties, political corruption, predatory economic behavior, and destructive appetites even as they express hope for a better world.Trade Review"[M]odern answers to Grimm, variously satirical, queered and jaunty, by a diverse, intriguing group of writers."--Marina Warner, Times Literary Supplement "In the wake of the Great War, in the deep bowl of economic depression, on the doorstep of World War II, these stories are the cultural tradition of a disillusioned generation... They are skillfully and delightfully executed renderings, a treasure-collection of the talents of the time, and plain good literature. I recommend them without hesitation."--Christie Ricardo, Spinning Straw into Gold blog "This beautifully produced reissue, published by Princeton University Press and part of the 'Oddly Modern Fairy Tales' series, features an illustration on its front cover which dates back to 1939. It is an extremely well laid out volume, and its introduction and author biographies make lovely additions to the book... This is a collection of tales which certainly deserved a reprint, and will delight lovers of fairytales, nostalgia, British history and short stories alike."--Kirsty Hewitt, BookGeeks (UK) "It's intriguing to see how past authors used fairy tales in their modern fiction."--Sur La Lune blog "The uniqueness of the collection will make you want to savor it, just as I did... You will feel drawn to inspect each story closely, not only because of the tales' fanciful nature, but also because of their fascinating historical placement and significance."--Beanstalk blog "True to the spirit of the folk tale, they keep their stories provincial even as they modernise the settings. Aladdin is a Scottish undertaker in the town of Drumlochie. Cinderella lives in a secluded valley somewhere in Wales. She lives alone, having learnt a hard lesson in love: her story, typically for this collection, brings disenchantment, not happiness."--Ken Gelder, The Age "[D]elightful."--Choice "[A] delightfully different fairy-tale experience for the contemporary reader. Even those well versed in literary fairy-tales will find something new and enchanting in this volume... This collection is an essential addition to the libraries of those who study fairy-tale retellings and will be an enjoyable read for many others as well. Clever, revealing, and often oddly poignant, these stories deserve recognition."--Brittany Warman, Marvels & TalesTable of ContentsIntroduction Maria Tatar 1 Jack the Giant Killer A. E. Coppard 39 Godfather Death Clemence Dane 65 The Fisherman and His Wife E. M. Delafield 95 Little Snow-White Lord Dunsany 121 Aladdin Anna Gordon Keown 137 Sindbad the Sailor Eric Linklater 163 Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves A. G. Macdonell 186 Puss in Boots Helen Simpson 208 The Little Mermaid Lady Eleanor Smith 228 Little Red Riding-Hood E. oe. Somerville 249 Cinderella Robert Speaight 271 'O, If I Could but Shiver!' Christina Stead 302 The Sleeping Beauty G. B. Stern 325 Big Claus and Little Claus R. J. Yeatman and W. C. Sellar 354 Author Biographies 365

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Book SynopsisA delicious mix of East and West, of wonder and irony, The Fox and Dr. Shimamura is a most curious novelTrade Review"A wonderful and most of all wonderfully told story." -- Die Zeit"What a beautiful book!" -- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung"The Fox & Dr. Shimamura is a cornucopia of strange pathologies and historical oddities, spanning multiple continents and languages, that breaks down the polarities between religion and science, supernatural hauntings and neurotic hauntings, and Eastern and Western cultural ideologies. Dr. Shimamura, a Japanese neurologist who travels to the hotspots of psychiatry in early twentieth-century Europe, thinks in both Japanese and German, and harbors a slight disdain for the backwardness of Japanese science; yet while he prides himself on being a supremely rational, modern man, he can’t shake the conviction that he is possessed by a fox that slithers under his skin. Christine Wunnicke takes her place alongside the Japanese-German writer Yoko Tawada as an adept celebrator of cosmopolitan intermixture and the magic of subverting monocultural systems." -- Gregory Ariail - Kenyon Review"A marvel, a wonder—a deeply strange little novel about medicine, memory, and fox possession. With her delicate prose, arch tone, and mischievous storytelling, Wunnicke proves herself a master of the form." -- Kirkus (starred review)"A mythical, mystical, and at times bizarre tale of a late nineteenth-century Japanese doctor who is sent to remote areas of the Shimane prefecture to cure women of fox possession. Wunnicke slyly reminds us that, although women are powerless, even when it comes to treating their own illnesses, they find ways to quietly assert their will over men." -- Melissa Beck - Music and Literature"Wunnicke paints nightmarishly hectic European scenes in a palette of absinthe and Toulouse-Lautrec, and alternates them with nightmarishly static scenes of Shimamura’s declining, colorless present in Japan. Connections proliferate like reflections in a house of mirrors, fascinating and also vaguely queasy — the narrative is disorienting in every sense of the word. But absurdist fiction, like psychotherapy, requires an investment of energy and a suspension of judgment. The Fox and Dr. Shimamura is worth the effort." -- New York Times Book Review"Christine Wunnicke’s glittering, absurdist jewel of a novel." -- New York Times Book Review"The Fox and Dr. Shimamura recovers the almost magical counternarratives running parallel to key moments in the history of western modernity. Shimamura is marked as someone who is navigating the hazy boundaries of gender, finding through the fox spirit some access to an internalized femininity that is rebuked by his society in the form of history’s most gendered diagnosis. Rich and engaging." -- The Carolina Quarterly"An appealingly haunting novel, slightly off-kilter, suggesting the unknown and the unknowable." -- M.A. Orthofer - The Complete Review"A miniature voyage around the world and into the not-so-distant past. Wunnicke’s deftly drawn vignettes of Dr. Shimamura’s life provide tantalizing glimpses into the manifestations of Eastern and Western psychiatry at the turn of the last century." -- Catherine Venner - World Literature Today"Wunnicke spoofs the misogynist history of psychology in this clever and rewarding novel of slippery memories tinged with Japanese myths: this gracefully amusing blend of history and imagination will beguile readers.""“Delightfully crazy—very nicely told: Wunnicke succeeds in drawing us into the logic of this mad world, where the fox moving under a girl’s skin is as vivid (and believable?) as Charcot’s demonstration of the arc of la grande hysterie.”" -- Rosmarie Waldrop

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Book SynopsisFor as long as Mississippi has existed (and then some), flocks of phantoms have haunted the mortal inhabitants of the Magnolia State. In Thirteen Mississippi Ghosts and Jeffrey, best-selling folklorist Kathryn Tucker Windham, along with her trusty spectral companion Jeffrey, introduces thirteen of the state's most famous ghost stories.

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Book SynopsisThis first-ever translation of Sholom Aleichem’s rediscovered innovative novel Moshkeleh the Thief has a riveting plot, an unusual love story, and a keenly observed portrayal of an underclass Jew replete with characters never before been seen in Yiddish literature. Trade Review"Sholom Aleichem's humor comes through in Curt Leviant's lyrical and delightful translation."—Ilka Gordon, Association of Jewish Libraries“This almost-forgotten novel by one of the greatest Jewish writers of all time is revelatory, vividly depicting an all-too-rarely-seen side of Yiddish literature and Jewish life; its rendering here, by one of Jewish literature’s greatest translators, provides a crackling energy befitting its material. Don’t start it too late in the evening; you won’t be able to put it down.”—Jeremy Dauber, Columbia University professor and author of The Worlds of Sholem Aleichem“This rediscovered short novel by Sholom Aleichem is a gem—a vivid representation of the underside of Jewish life in Eastern Europe, funny, touching, and biting. Curt Leviant has done a remarkable job with the English translation, aptly catching the pungent colloquial character of the Yiddish.”—Robert Alter, emeritus professor of Hebrew and comparative literature, University of California, Berkeley, and author of The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary“Moshkele Ganev flies in the face of so much of what we think of when we imagine Eastern European Jewish life. Here, Sholom Aleichem brings us the broadest of visions of that world, not merely by dramatizing the shady characters on society’s margins, but also by inviting us into their emotional lives and uncovering the complicated power structures that can turn them into heroes. For any reader who cares about the Jewish past, this never-before-translated gem will be a revelation—and a delight.”—Dara Horn, author of Eternal Life: A Novel“More than a century after his death, Sholom Aleichem has a new (or rather a newly rediscovered) book out, and it was worth the wait. Thanks to Curt Leviant for rescuing this unusual love story from obscurity, translating it so beautifully, and, at long last, giving it the readership it deserves.”—Aaron Lansky, author of Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish BooksTable of ContentsContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction Chapter 1. Discusses ThievesChapter 2. He Displays His Mettle Early OnChapter 3. His Fight with the Goliath of ZlodeyevkeChapter 4. He Dislikes Mazepevke Jews, and Justifiably SoChapter 5. Chaim Chosid’s Daughter Scandalizes Mazepevke and the Town Goes Topsy-TurvyChapter 6. Chaim Chosid’s Son-in-Law Has an IdeaChapter 7. Turns Back for a While to Discuss Lofty MattersChapter 8. Which Strays Off Course a Bit, Yet Still Has Relevance to the NovelChapter 9. An Undeserved SlapChapter 10. Moshke Has a PlanChapter 11. A Walk in the Monastery GardenChapter 12. Hens Lay Eggs, Jewish Girls Make BabiesChapter 13. On Philosophy, Love, and Other MattersChapter 14. Jews Buy Wine for the SederChapter 15. This Pesach NightChapter 16. Monastery Bells Are RingingChapter 17. A Dangerous LeapChapter 18. A Posted Letter and Some Comments by the AuthorChapter 19. Henekh the Cantor Looks for a JobChapter 20. What a Story! What a Tale!

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