Every people or nation has its own way of experiencing this psychic reality, and so a study of the world's fairy tales yields a wealth of insights into the archetypal experiences of humankind. Perhaps the foremost authority on the psychological interpretation of fairy tales is Marie-Louise von Franz. In this book—originally published as An Introduction to the Interpretation of Fairy Tales —she describes the steps involved in analyzing and illustrates them with a variety of European tales, from "Beauty and the Beast" to "The Robber Bridegroom." Dr. von Franz begins with a history of the study of fairy tales and the various theories of interpretation. By way of illustration she presents a detailed examination of a simple Grimm's tale, "The Three Feathers," followed by a comprehensive discussion of motifs related to Jung's concept of the shadow, the anima, and the animus. This revised edition has been corrected and updated by the author.

    Keel's brilliant ultraterrestrial hypothesis needs to be read...albeit, with the proverbial grain of salt. Shortly after the 1970 version of this book was published, Keel was not only "contacted" by the subjects of his research--they refused to leave him alone! As a result he was driven insane. This is most clearly evident in his later work, The Eighth Tower. A few of Keel's other works (This Haunted Planet & The Mothman Prophecies) are noteworthy, but not in the same class as OTH. The opinion of the ultraterrestrials regarding this book seems to have been, "He wrote WHAT? Oh, no--can't have that! Let's put him at the top of our list of folks who need to be f**ked with." The 1st edition almost didn't see print. A 2nd edition was never published until this revised edition came out in the late '90s. Meanwhile, between Keel stating things like, "God is insane, & an ancient computer keeps sending beams into my head!" (paraphrased from Eighth Tower), & allegations of ultraterrestrial Dopplegangers impersonating him across the land--well, let's say his credibility has suffered. Regardless of Keel's mental illness (from which he eventually seemed to recover), sloppy research & bizarre speculations; OTH stands out as perhaps the best thing ever written about multi-dimensional entities. He spends a lot of time discussing the nature of the electromagnetic spectrum & goes in depth regarding little known facts common to many witness accounts (things which were left out of official reports, as they contradicted the preconceptions of scientifically biased investigators). His investigation shows this sort of thing has been going on throughout recorded history. Starting with ancient mythology, progressing to folk legends, then delving into old reports of airships, ghost planes, foo fighters & modern black helicopters, he presents a convincing argument that these aren't the result of human conspirators, but rather a multidimensional intelligence which can assume any guise. Perhaps the most important point that Keel makes is that these intelligences aren't to be trusted. Indeed, he states that the many reports of aliens observed performing nonsensical actions (making repairs, collecting soil samples, performing medical examinations & delivering lectures about the dangers of atomic energy to inbred hillbillies) are nothing more than a charade intended to make us believe that they're something other than what they are. He believes the only reason for such a ruse would be hostile intent. He then expands this argument by referring to the hundreds of contactees, spirit mediums & New Age channellers who've been given a series of valid prophesies--which then compel them to either go on a wild goose chase, make public announcements of impending doom or form cults. But consider this...what if it isn't hostile intent at all? What if the ultraterrestrials are just kicking back, drinking some beers, & one of 'em goes, "Hey--you know what would REALLY mess with their minds?" Perhaps it is nothing more than a warped sense of humor!--Tyr Shadowblade (edited)

    

    This collection of legends, songs, superstitions, and stories, both true and apocryphal includes spectral ships, mermaids and mermen, pirates, sea language, sea monsters, navigation and weather lore, names on sea and shore, and much more. Library Journal called Folklore and the Sea "a browser's delight as well as a researcher's gold mine."

    He kept them in a box beside his throne. But Ananse, the Spider man, wanted them -- and caught three sly creatures to get them. This story of how we got our own stories to tell is adapted from an African folktale.

    Arranged by topic — Origins, Love, Heroes, and People — the tales combine universal themes and uncanny wisdom. Though some of these stories have been around for centuries and many were passed down by slaves, Julius Lester's urban expressiveness and Tom Feeling's spirited illustrations give them continued resonance for today's audience.

    Folk Narratives contains tales told for edification or delight, but not thought to be factually true.Folk Legends presents tales the tellers believed to be records of actual events.

    With fieldwork assistance by Anna Amera and Sophie Kallifatidou. With a foreword by H.R.H. Prince Peter of Greece.

    

    According to Joshua Trachtenberg, it is not possible truly to understand the experience and history of the Jewish people without attempting to recover their folklife and beliefs from centuries past.Jewish Magic and Superstition is a masterful and utterly fascinating exploration of religious forms that have all but disappeared yet persist in the imagination. The volume begins with legends of Jewish sorcery and proceeds to discuss beliefs about the evil eye, spirits of the dead, powers of good, the famous legend of the golem, procedures for casting spells, the use of gems and amulets, how to battle spirits, the ritual of circumcision, herbal folk remedies, fortune telling, astrology, and the interpretation of dreams.First published more than sixty years ago, Trachtenberg's study remains the foundational scholarship on magical practices in the Jewish world and offers an understanding of folk beliefs that expressed most eloquently the everyday religion of the Jewish people.

    A classic, it presents many aspects of the supernatural seers, healers, charms, banshees, forths, th

    Blue cloth w/gilt titles, front with debossed dark blue decorative border around two panels with debossed elaborate design within, which would be a gypsy design.

    Filled with pieces collected from Native Americans in their own languages and translated by leading scholars and poets of the day, it was the first book to give their oral verse its palce as an essential, vibrant part of North American literature. These songs and chants, ancient and modern, speak to the power and poignancy of ordinary life and to the deeply mystical. These are cries from a people at one with both spirit and earth, for all the world to hear and includes works from the major tribes from the Southeast to the Northwest Coast.

    Mr. Paredes has prepared a scholarly collection of the Mexican tales that still thrive in oral literature and i the famous Mexican fiestas, which combine legend, dance, ritual, carnival, and drama in endless recombination."All levelsof Mexican social strucrture are represented in the tales since Dr. Paredes has included tales from modern, cosmopolitan Mexico Cty as well as narratives from the campo. Aside the usual stereotyped characters of much of the world's folktale tradition, we find Aztec dieties and monsters, charismatic caudillos, psychiatrists, and such famous personges as Kim Novak and Pedro de Urdemalas.... The miraculous and the mundane, the fictitious and the historical arae present .... Dr. Paredes has done an outstanding job of translating these tales into an English which retains much of the flavor of Mexican Spanish without falling into the trap of allowing the narratives to sound as if they were written for utterance by Mexican bandidos of a spaghetti western. His Introduction traces the history of the folkloristic scholarship within Mexico and points out the successes and failures of some of that scholarship. This Introduction, coupled with Dr. Dorson's Preface, which sketches the major events and influencs in the development of modern Mexico, serve to give a background against which the selected tales can be better understood. Folktales of Mexico stands as one of the few works available to non-Spanish speakers and readers which portrays with relative accuracy a Latin American tradition of oral narrative." - P. Brandt George, Folklore Forum

    To open it anywhere is to sink a shaft into the memory of a people and all that they know …’ With these words Philip Pullman introduces a new Folio Society edition of a pioneering publication. Katharine M. Briggs’s Folk Tales of Britain: Narratives is an unrivalled collection of stories, from local traditions and historical legends to shaggy dog stories and fairy tales. A cornucopia of storytelling, it is an essential part of both Britain’s heritage and the literary heritage of the world.Each volume in this edition is illustrated by a different artist: volume I by Hannah Firmin, volume II by Peter Firmin and volume III by Clare Melinsky. Peter Firmin began working as a printmaker at the age of 14 and celebrated his 81st birthday whilst illustrating Folk Tales of Britain. His daughter Hannah has developed her own work over 30 years, using a traditional technique taught to her by her father. This is the first time that they have worked together on an illustration project. These three very different artists worked in similar relief media using vinyl and lino, giving a family resemblance to their work. The style of the illustrations is ideally suited to the traditional nature of the stories and to their range: from the comic and earthy to the magical and haunting.A new preface has been commissioned from Philip Pullman, a writer whose work - like folk tales themselves - speaks to both adults and children. In it, he praises the achievement of Katharine M. Briggs and the depth of scholarship she brought to this work. He celebrates the rich variety of voices captured here, and reminds us that these tales should be thought of as a starting point for new tellings: 'They should be taken out and made to dance.' His enthusiasm, together with the creative response from the three illustrators, is testament to the enduring power of these stories.

    

    But whaling was more than a business; it represented the highest order of adventure-excitement, danger, hope of financial gain, and heartbreak. The songs whalemen sang reflected these feelings and experiences. They were, in effect, a record of life on board a whaling ship. This work is one of the largest collections of ballads and songs traditionally sung by the seamen. It contains over 175 songs, with music provided for most of them. There are songs of storm, shipwreck, love, tragedy, and death; gospel, parlor, bawdy songs, and more! The author's introduction details the history of whaling and discusses how and why these songs were recorded. In addition, he gives complete histories of the songs; relates the events the ballads celebrate; gives variants; and defines whaling expressions. This is an essential book for ballad students, folklorists, historians, and seamen. Folk singers will especially welcome this rich source of material. And general readers will delight in these adventurous tunes and their tales of love, the sea, and the ship. First published in 1964, Songs the Whalemen Sang is now reissued by Mystic Seaport.