Mythology and Folklore Books

I highly recommend this translation of Joinville and Villehardouin.

The translator has taken care to translate these works into lucid, contemporary language without dumbing down the writing. Her work has paid off, providing a readable and lively edition still suitable for scholarly review.

Whether you are reading these for enjoyment, personal interest, or academic reasons, this translation is a good one.

I had to read this book in my Medieval and Ranasance Class at OSU. This book gives a first person view of what the Crusades were like. My teenage son has read the book several times and used for several research papers in high school.

These are both excellent accounts of the crusades. Villehardouin proves insightful in what he does not say. A small army of crusaders faces unbelievable odds in Constantinople and yet somehow they conquer and hold this territory. It brings up the question of whether the conquest was an accident or a conspiracy, and a reader can answer that question through careful reading. There are other books wholly committed to this argument of conspiracy vs. accident.

Joinville gives an equally appreciable account of a crusade, this time a failed attempt in Egypt by Saint Louis. Joinville is an author that gives a huge amount of information. The integrity of Louis is apparent as well as the mistakes made by the crusaders (Joinville rarely places direct blame of any failure on Louis, noting instead Louis's brother and his failures.)

This is a well introduced book and is not difficult to read in my opinion.

Chronicles of the Crusades is a chronicle of the Crusades from two of the senior participants who took part in two of the Crusades. The book covers the descriptions of the fourth and the seventh crusades as seen through the eyes of Geoffroy De Villehardouin (who took part in the fourth crusade) and Jean De Joinville (who took part in the seventh crusade). The two chronicles were translated for this book by Margaret Shaw. The book was published in 1963 around the time of her death. The two chronicles give us a look into the two crusades as chronicled through the eyes of two important noblemen of their time. This in itself will taint the purity of the chronicle. Chronicles such as these lay out the justifications for the crusades and tend to gloss over the blemishes. These two are no different. They were written to glorify the Crusaders and surely the writers would not put on ink anything that would later detract from their names. These chronicles do an excellent job of showing how the two chroniclers thought and how they wanted these two crusades remembered. When this book is read this should be kept in mind. The average crusader was a mixture of those driven by greed and religious extremists. The crusaders were allowed to plunder the lands they conquered. In today's terms they were allowed to take war trophies, thus stealing from the inhabitants of the land. They were barbaric in their means of taking the land and the raping of women was allowed, if the women were not of the Christian faith. The fourth crusade received condemnation on its behavior when the Christian city of Constantinople was sacked. This was due to the crusaders raping of the women. This of course is not pointed out by Villehardouin. The chroniclers mention a little of the plunder, but do not mention anything else. Though the chroniclers are quick to point out the cruelty of the Saracens. Margaret Shaw refers to these two chronicles as being the most reliable accounts of the crusades written in French. I would have to disagree that these chronicles should be taken as completely accurate. Joinville refers to Prestor John as if he was a person who actually existed, thus showing that his accounts are not strictly cemented in fact. The chronicles give an overview of the crusades and do not go into much detail on the equipment used and the everyday life of the average crusader. This book is a good book to show the chroniclers thoughts and perspectives but if you are trying to get an accurate picture of what happened during these crusades I would look into other books as well. Such books that describe the opposing views as seen from the Muslim side and other books that can give specifics on how the crusaders lived and their equipment could help in understanding these crusades better. I am giving this book 5 stars because it does accurately convey it's title. It does cover the Chronicles of the Crusades.

The two accounts in _Chronicles of the Crusades_ provide readers with fascinating accounts of the 4th and 7th crusades. Villehardoun's observations of the sack of Constantinople leave some questions regarding whether it was a conspiracy to destroy the city or not; ultimately it is up to the reader to decide... It does, however, provide a window into 12th century warfare and politics.

Joinville's chronicle of the 7th crusade into the Holy Land was similarly fascinating, providing more information about a European's impressions of the Near East and Christian-Islamic conflict than Villehardoun. I much preferred Joinville for this reason. Together, both accounts provide a well-rounded history of the time and place - a tremendously interesting read for professional and armchair historians alike.

Los Angeles Times, July 29, 1990
"DOMINO teaches the chants, clap patterns and jump - rope songs of the Virgin Islands, with a cassette recorded on playgrounds of St. Croix by author Karen S. Ellis; the syncopated rhythms are irresistible, and some of the lyrics quite salty."

The Orff Echo, Fall 1990, page 44
"All material is clearly presented with precise and easy-to-understand directions for the games and dances. To maintain authenticity, the words of the songs are written in a mixture of standard English and Cruzian, the dialect of St. Croix. A glossary is provided to assist with unfamiliar words and phrases. Especially interesting is the author's account of her use of an Orff Schulwerk-based approach to teach language skills to the children in a small island town. The accompanying cassette tape, available separately, includes nearly all of the items in the book, most of it performed by the children themselves. No one should miss the priceless rendition of "Ding Dong."

The Midwest Book Review, May 26, 1990

An oversized paperback with spiral binging and a 35 minute audio cassette introduce both adult and child listeners to traditional children's songs and proverbs from the American Virgin Islands, providing a unique opportunity to absorb the culture and sounds of an area which has received relatively little attention.
An oversized paperback and 35 minute cassette provides a unique opportunity to absorb the culture and sounds of an area which has received relatively little attention. More than just another ethnic song collection, the tape alone holds merit, the paperback/tape package is recommended above each singly: the book is an essential enhancement to the tape, offering a political and cultural review of the Virgin Islands, teaching advice to teachers who may be considering the tape and workbook for classroom use, and illustrated musical instructions and score sheets for the tape's songs. The small black and white photos of the children at play are particularly intriguing."

Come-All-Ye, Vol. II No. 2, Summer 1990 A Review Journal for publications in the fields of Folklore, American Studies, Social History and Popular Culture. "It is a thoroughly delightful compilation, of interest to folklorists, teachers and everybody else can enjoy it."

"An oversized paperback and 35 minute cassette provides a unique opportunity to absorb the culture and sounds of an area which has received relatively little attention. More than just another ethnic song collection, the tape alone holds merit, the paperback/tape package is recommended above each singly: the book is an essential enhancement to the tape, offering a political and cultural review of the Virgin Islands, teaching advice to teachers who may be considering the tape and workbook for classroom use, and illustrated musical instructions and score sheets for the tape's songs. The small black and white photos of the children at play are particularly intriguing."

Jim Cox Midwest Book Review

Dr. John Rickford Ph.D (1997, Feb. 28) Dept of Linguistics, Stanford University

I recieved Domino, and was impressed both by the book and the tape. It was enjoyable for my wife Angela and I--the similarities with so many songs we knew growing up in Guyana were so striking, especially for Angela. (As your photos show, these clap patterns and circle songs are more popular with girls than boys.) For instance, for "Brown Girl in the Ring," we sing, "There's a Colored girl in the ring, etc" and end with "She likes sugar, and I like plum!"

WRT the "Congo Saw" proverb on page 22--I'm pretty sure this is the same as the "Conguseh" we have in Guyana, meaning "gossip," so the proverb really means that gossip is worse, more harmful than working obeah. See the entry for _congosa_ in Allsopp's wonderful, just released _Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage_ (Oxford U Press).

Also, the wording for Mother Goose on page 39 seemed to us perhaps to be "Come look a me ya" ("Come look at me here") but it wasn't so clear. This is a wonderful achievement, Karen, and the kids must have LOVED the attention and interest you showed in them and their songs. I bet they missed you when you left.

I highly recommend this little known jewel book in fairies.I found the lecture very enjoyable, as a plus this book is a nice complement to Jacques Valle's "Passport to Magonia",a classic in his class, I consider the bits of valuable info given by the author and his theories of the fairies issue very interesting.
In fact is a must reading for those ufologist trying to decipher the UFO's enigma. The matter of EBE (extrabiological entities) versus extradimensional beings {life forms, quantum energy, universal mind or whatever other name)as the bipolar center of the UFO forums today.

This is a great book. It is one of the few fairy books that take an objective viewpoint. Most books say that fairies are not real I loved this book. It has cute pictures of supposedly real fairies and the true accounts are very interesting. There is even a cute picture of an ancient fairy shoe and a mummified body. I hope you buy this book it is the best. :)

Wow. I love this book. I went to the library looking for a book about faries, to find this magnificent book. It is filled with bunches and bunches of stories of people who, well, encountered faries. These stories are amazing! From little men driving cars, to ones getting caught in a woman's hair, to brownies who helped clean houses, to nature faries. I believe, and you will too.

I really enjoyed this book on fairies. The author did an excellent job of tying in a wide variety of legends, stories, tales, myths, and unexplained phenomenon (even crop circles and UFO's get a mention). Unlike many books of this genre - there is little fantasy or frou-frou, Bord instead lays more trust in themes which commonly reoccur in fairy encounters.

In all, this is an excellent book, and it is well worth the money. I will fault the binding though, the glossy pages of photos in the book were quick to fall out and I was by no means rough with the book.

This is a great faery book, and seems to get its base root from Ireland. It has interesting and "unexplained" faery photos in the middle of the book, and some interesting encounters with faeries told inside of this book. Although I love faeries, and believe in them, I didnt like this book that much because they made faeries sound like all myths and legends.

I love this book. I love it so much I also bought his other book (Folk Tales). After reading once, I do go back to it and read it over and over again. I highly reccommend it.

I found this title among my uncle's books after he died in 1995. I devoured it then, and have returned to it periodically since, and each time it's nourishing, the way great fairy tales and folklore should be (and not *at all* like a serving of Every-ending-is-a-happy-one-so-why-not-relax-and-enjoy-yourself Soup).

Some of the other reviewers have objected to the contemporary touches in the stories--the gym workouts, the condos, the penny loafers--finding them corny and inappropriate. I suppose this will eternally be a matter of debate, and, ultimately, taste. Some people love, or at least tolerate, finding brand names and pop culture references in their literature, and others abhor it.

I'm in the former camp. For one thing, I find it much too anti-populist to insist upon that kind of rigid separation of high and low culture.

In these tales specifically, I enjoyed the contemporary references because they brought home the message that fairy tales (and fables, and folklore, and wisdom literature of all kinds) are not just for "once upon a time," but for right now, and always.

For this reason, I think these renditions of traditional fairy tales can speak to everyone, not just to gay men, though of course I expect they'll find a special place in the hearts of gay readers.

The quiet power of these tales is as mystifying and timless as the originals from which they are spun. By recasting and reshaping both favorite and obscure fairy tales from our youth with gay themes, Peter Cashorali has given gay men the myths and legends on which empires are made. Queit, pensive, reflective, moral, funny, entertaining, sexy, thoughtful and just plain fun are the words I'd use to describe this collection. The 17 stories are easily read in one sitting (some only a page or two long), but are hard to forget. I chose to read one a night, right before bed. If you have a lover, reading them to one another makes for great bedtime stories. Each is begun with a simple line drawing that forshadows events to come. A nice design element is each of these drawings are picked up on the jacket cover. If you happen to not know the tale on which a particular story is based, it is refrenced on the bottom of each stories first page. This makes it really easy to find and read the original to see just how much Cashorali has reworked it. I espicially loved the range of gay life portrayed; from girly boys to butch boys, S&M, AIDS, aging, looking for lasting love and dealing with a loss, this book covers it all. And don't forget the manditory enchanted objects, talking animals, handsome princes, frogs, ogres and withces needed for any good fairy tale! All are included and no one feels left out.

Fairy tales give us a shared history, something to aspire to, and to learn from. Finally - finally gay men have their own! I can't recomend this book enough. We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Cashorali. I'm sure the Brothers Grimm would be proud as well. Buy it and I'm sure you'll savor it's rich tales for years and years to come!

These stories are comforting because they're normalizing, but some of the magic of the original folktales is diminished because the author feels compelled to bring in cliches of the gay world. Cliches such as S&M type characters, AIDS and various yuppie-lifestyle references (the gym, designer clothes ...etc). However, I would still suggest looking in to it because it offers a beginning of homosexuals themselves looking at themselves - as normal, just people in the world. I found about an equal proportion of the book tacky as I did touching, but it's a book I'm sure to revisit. A few of the stories had some thoughtful lessons to them.

I'm glad to see that there's finally *fairy* tales out there for gay men. And, although I prefer the romance, being the starry-eyed dreamer that I am, it pleases me seeing tall aspects of life in these stories: love and loss, youth and aging, rags to riches, on and on...

The anachronisms like cars, gyms, office buildings, etc, made the stories sag a bit. It really took something away from that whimsical, fairy tale quality... but not too much to dampen the stories!

Turning "s*** into gold" in Rumpelstiltskin? I couldn't help smirking at that! I was expecting something other than hair in "Romaine"("Rapunzel"). And It's wonderful to see the gay male rise above adversity and find true love! I would so enjoy reading this to my prince charming!

I just got done reading this book over the weekend. I had been looking for a nice Persian story book for my 4.5 year old daughter and came across this. Fortress of the Golden Dragon while a great story, is a bit too complex for a 4 year to fully understand. The story borrows heavily from the ancient Persian myth of Haftvad (please see: [...]. There are many additional elements however present in this story which make it unique and a great magical story. There are some good moral lessons there as well. Therefore, I will keep this book and read it to my daughter in a few years when she is a bit older.

This book is enchanting and delightful. It is a must read for older children and adults. I would not be surprised if it were on the big screen soon!

Wonderful! It is a bit of "Lord of the Rings" meets "Cinderella" meets "The Celestine Prophesy". I highly recommend this book.

This book is a wonderful way of showing children and young adults, as well as grown ups, how they can strengthen and grow their inner good to overcome all dark and evil forces within them. Not only is a well described story, it is also very inspirational to all readers. Once you start this entertaining book you will never want to set it down.

I found this book, written by Homa A. Garemani to be very intriguing and entertaining for all ages. This book is an ancient tale that makes you use your imagination. It gives enough imagery to give you the main picture and leaves out enough to make you use your imagination and create a world you see in your mind's eye. With its intricate use of love, hate, and magic this tale is a good read for everyone. There are many themes that can be derived from this book such as, love can overcome any obstacle and when you learn from your mistakes and keep a level head anything is possible. In this story many characters are actually symbols for bigger things, such as Peerbabu. He is the good inside of everyone that is always there. It comes when you need it and is the hope that drives out the evil. The evil in this story isn't really the "dragon" but instead it is Amaease, he represents the greed and power hungry people in the world. This book has a universal message, the beauty of it is in its simplicity. There are few books that are written for one culture, that can be related to everone which the whole world is able to understand, and this is one of them. The only other book I have read that was able to do this was The Illiad and the Odessy. I grew up living with books like Harry Potter and The Hobbit, but this is a book about my culture that is interesting and makes me feel even more proud about my heritage.

I loved this book. So wonderfully written. Albeit the author took some liberties with the stories, I think the idea of the book is very well executed. I loved reading about Shiva and Ganesha and Vishnu and Parvati as if they were people who lived just down the street. So much of Hindu lore is very difficult to digest, but the author does a great job of delivering the myths and the moral point of each story very very well. Well done.

Fairy tales from the East lent us insight into a new range of contemporary issues and new responces to these temptations, character flaws and daily errs. Through these mythological stories and the choices these characters make, we are invited to be in both the situation and each character in tne story. Their choices then become our story. It is a unique tool for checking in with our values and coming to greater clarity about "what if" I were placed in such a situation myself. Good reading for all ages and an ideal gift for conscience raising without being rude.

Beautifully written! The timeless quality of these ancient myths shines brightly through Ms. Kapur's lucid prose.

Ganesha Goes to Lunch is a grand mix-up of Gods and mortals... all doing the best they can considering the limitations (and non-limitations) of their realities. The treat is that we are afforded a front row seat and, while enjoying ourselves all the while, suddenly discover that teachings of profound wisdom have somehow been assimilated.

A wonderful and imaginative journey with the power to inform, inspire and - ultimately transform the reader. Thank you, Kamla Kapur for the (wild elephant) ride!

Ganesha Goes to Lunch by Kamla K. Kapur is a collection of twenty four stories drawn from the oral tradition of mythical tales in India. The stories are retold in contemporary language, and maintain the essential structure and characteristics of the folklores. Kamla's choice of stories ranges from tales about why Ganesha has elephant's trunk, to the marriage of Shiv-Parvati to the creation of Brahma and universe. The story of the friendship of Sudama and Krishna is retold as is the tale of Vishwamitra-Vashisht rivalry.

The Bharatiya (Indian) tradition thrives on stories passed on from generation to generation. Each generation adds its own experience to knowledge and reinterprets the understanding passed to them. The Hindu myths by their very nature don't have absolutes. They represent Gods or men trapped in their vices, roused or limited by their virtues, acting in response to the demands that existence as humans on earth demands from us. The attempt is to create examples as prototypes to deal with contradictions and complexities that daily strife, be it in war, peace, family matters, need, greed, valor, and amorous desires lead us to. This had lead to several epics about avataars or incarnations, and as humans Gods lead exemplary lives, faulting at times, and suffering for them. In Kamla's collection, the gems from the boundless sea of folklore are picked, polished and repackaged to lure Western audiences as well as those Indian readers who have learned most from English education and English Literature.

The book has a number of pictures and illustrations, which allow a non-Indian reader to visualize the God or character in question. We Indians grow up with these tales, and somehow we imbibe their lessons into our being without realizing when or how. The modern age has brought a slew of stories and media into our household, and in these times, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the shallow characterizations and sensationalist serials. The demands of materialistic modern life, makes it even more important for us to connect to the spiritual wisdom of centuries, the philosophy both rich and humbling is present in highly entertaining form in these stories. Kamla Kapur's effort is commendable in both the spirit and the style of execution.

While most of these stories can be read out to children, a few characterizations are little more sensual than I would have hoped for. The discussion about Shiva and Shakti, the male and female powers, is done quite boldly, whereas my encounters with these stories as a child were in an understatement, and in euphemisms. Perhaps the retelling must respond to the contemporary world, where the Victorian writing, the euphemisms are considered trite and cliched. The tale from Ramayana, incorrectly mentions that Hanuman brought Sanjivini (or the hill with that herb on it) for reviving Ram (I am certain that it was needed for Laxman). Aside from these quips, most of the stories are brief and well written, and will form a good reading for people of all ages.

Myths by their very nature appeal to the heroic, and the virtuous elements of our being. Kamla's rendition ensures that the heroic and mystic elements are distilled into a reader's consciousness. The simplicity of language, the delightful imagery, the translation as if of whole oral tradition of myths into this eclectic collection speaks volumes about Kamla's craftsmanship and reverence for these tales. While the tales are derived from Hindu myths, the structure, the impact, the ideals, the virtues they inspire transcend time, space and religion. I enjoyed these, and so I hope you will too.

I got a copy of this in a second-hand store when I was a kid and I've practically read the covers off. Absolutely magical. I have never read a better imagining of the Cinderella story.

you can not give this book enough stars. this book brings cinderella to the next level very tastefully. thank you to the author for this teenage level.

The book is very good story. The author has done a very good job of telling the story. I have readed this book since 6th grade and now I'm first year in college. I have enjoy this book every time I read it. I recommend it to every one.

I found it! Like one of the other reviewers, I read this book, and re-read it and re-read it, in Elementary school and loved it! The internet and places like Amazon.com have been a god-send for finding those treasures of childhood I thought I'd never see again. This remains to this day my very favorite version of the Cinderella story. Well worth the read no matter how old you are!

Like Robin Grunder's (New York, New York March 1999) review I just saw on this page, I had read this book (from my church library, no less!) when I was about 10-12 years old. I fell in love with it, and it left a marked impression upon me. Sort of "Cinderella at a whole 'nother level." But as a teenager I could not find the book anywhere. As a young adult, I would revert back to childhood books in times of stress (Madeleine L'Engle, Carolyne Keene) and looked for Eleanor's "Glass Slipper" many times to no avail. Then, in my late 30's, when Internet searching became all the rage, I one evening put the title in a search engine and VIOLA! There were several used (collectible) hardback copies available through Amazon.com! ... but I have my used 'library' copy and I'm ecstatic. I'll pass this on to my child's children, who will hopefully love reading as much as I do.

I just reviewed another book on the subject of the Green Man --one I do NOT recommend. In that review, I said, if you want real substance and genuine scholarship instead of wishful thinking and superficial conjecture, then go directly to this book by William Anderson. The research is thorough, and it is both deeply thought-out and deeply felt. A jewel of a book!

I discovered this book in a small bookstore several years ago, and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it several times. Having ten years of training in art and art history, many books on art frustrate me, because many people don't know how to write about it. I found Anderson's book an absolute delight. He cites his sources, and it was always clear (to me, at least) when he was speculating, and when he was using references to support his statements. Discussing art and art history can all too often lead to muddy logic and subjectivity, which means that good art historians must meet a very high standard of proof. Anderson satisfied me on that count. Mind you, this is largely a work undertaken for his own curiousity and pleasure, so perhaps I wasn't as rigourous as I might have been with a work that claimed to be authoritative. But I know trash when I read it, and this is emphatically not trash. He's done his homework, and he knows his stuff. He states his case very well.

My own research into the Green Man and into the interface between Christianity and paganism in the Dark Ages and Middle Ages have led me to disagree with Anderson on a few points. But that doesn't diminish for me the pleasure of reading his book again.

I also enjoyed the many photographs. There's nothing worse than a book about art that doesn't illustrate the points made! And this book satisfied me there. I've used the illustrations as inspiration for my own artwork many times.

I count this as one of my favourite books of all time.

Very detailed book founded on a lot of excellent research. I didn't expect so much information in such a small book but it's really packed (the type is small too). I was looking for a book that was pretty complete and this certainly gave me what I needed. It has color and black and white photographs of architecture and sculpture showing green man images through history which really puts this into context and brings it alive. Through the text, the author gives explanation as to why Green Man shows up in the sculptures, stories that would have surrounded the building/design of the structures containing the green man images, poetry, and history of the times.

I particularly enjoyed GREEN MAN because the author William Anderson brings together and explores many subjects of interest to me -- the natural world, mythology and archtypes, Gothic church architecture, Wordsworth, and the concept of Gaia. GREEN MAN has been described by it's critics as a book about Mythology and Ecology, but I think Anderson has also written a very fine art history.

Anderson suggests most art historians and critics have overlooked the Green Man as an archetypal element and artifact. And, although I've taken several art history classes on the topic of Western church architecture, I can't recall a single instructor discussing the foliate masks, vine disgorging heads, or human fruiting vegetation Anderson clearly describes. The photographs in his book show they can be found in many places in churches including on rood screens, columns, capitals, corbels, tympani, stringcourses, pediments, flying buttressses, with the Holy Virgin and child, and weeping over Christ.

Anderson suggests the Green Man (or our need for him) has morphed into variation after variation over the millenia. The Green Man probably began life as a Celtic mythical figure, but by the 20th Century he had become a hidden Art Deco element. His most amazing incarnation occurred in the Middle Ages in the Gothic cathedrals, especially very sacred spots like Chartres in France. Chartres was one of Joseph Campbell's favorite haunts, and he has shared many of his insights about the cathedral, as has the art historian Panofsky. Anderson shares a few more ideas involving the Green Man.

If you plan to visit churches or cathedrals in Britain, Ireland, or Europe, I think you'll find this book a good resource. You can also learn more about the Green Man and his link to the Earth Mother and the natural order.

Beautifully illustrated compilation of research and mythology pertaining to Europe's ubiquitous Green Man image. Though no one knows for certain what, if anything, he signifies, the theories are numerous and fascinating. Once you know where to look, you'll find that this intriguing face is carved in all sorts of places, all over Europe, in wood and stone. He pops up just about everywhere there's medieval art - churches, cathedrals, palaces, public buildings. The varieties are endless, although all Green Men must have foliage incorporated in their visage. This little book is part of my permanent collection.

I love all the fairy books by Andrew Lang (red, orange, olive, crimson, grey, yellow, blue,etc). They are well written, exciting, and captivating. If you like fairy tales at all you must try one of his books.

This is just another of Andrew Lang's fairy books. It is a perfect book if you want to read to your child, or if you just like to read fairy tales. The book contains 59 black and white illustrations, and 35 short stories, ranging in length from a couple pages to about 20. The fairy tales include: The Impossible Enchantment, The Story of Dschemil and Dschemila, The Story of the Queen of the Flowery Isles, The White Wolf, Bobino, The Sunchild, The Unlooked-for Prince, annetella, Prunella, and many more.
I loved it

Andrew Lang could be decisevly one of the forefathers of fairytales for his many renditions of the fairytales we all love so much. His books have kept many fairytales in popular culture today, for instance the tale of Donkeyskin. Donkeyskin, in its hayday, was a tale that as many fairytales do, undermined and inforced ideologies of it's days. It spoke out against arranged marriages and demonstrated the cruelty and moral incorrectness of incestuous affairs. These ideals were new to the day, and hence such ideas as one might have noticed are still held by many people most likely due to this books influence. Yet, the concepts of a womans role and how a woman should be subservient was reinforced by the tale, but it would seem the story's life force has still been held by Lang. In short this colage of fairy tales is one of great importance and one that should be on everyones books shelves

Amazon's rating of the "Reading level: Baby-Preschool" is not correct.

Young people should be exposed to the beauty of good stories and art because it helps them to appreciate the finer thing. This series is a perfect tool to do this.

"The Grey Fairy Book" is a marvelous collection of tales from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Islamic countries. Once again we get to visit, the horrible, fantastic world of the fairy tale, complete with amazing drawings. These are the *unknown* tales that Disney ignores, but are beautiful in their own right. This is a must have for any collector or anyone who still needs their fairy tales. Who can outgrow these things?

Les trois premiers livres de la serie m'ont epate mais celui-ci "WOW". L'histoire est tellement pleine de rebondissements imprevus et quelle fin, c'est tout un revirement!

Reading this book wasn't just fun, but it really helped me in my French. I learned more in reading it than I have in all of my classes combined. There are some little changes in it, but that is because of the language difference and my over-reading the English version led me to know its wording too well. Still, that only made it more fun. I'd recommend this to any French student.

I never really liked to read. It was just too boring. Reading all those pages that had no effect on me. Then I heard about Harry Potter. Everyone really liked it. I wanted to see what the big deal was. I read the first book. I thought to myself how imaginative it was. The creatures, the characters, and the plot. They were all like a puzzle fit perfectly together. It made my mind run wild. I had to read the second book. I went through that like a person going after 1 billion dollars. It was so amazing. The third book was next. That was better than the first and second books. Finally the forth. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. That was the best of all. My favorite character is Ron. He reminds me of me. All except the looks. I look a lot better than him. This book is filled with creativity, mystery, fantasy, and love. All in one. Thats why I got hooked on all these things.

Then, Harry and the Weasley's go to the train station. Then they say goodbye to everyonne and get on the bus. They meet their new teacher and their best (not) friend, Malfred. Their is a special game instead of quidditch this year and only people over 18 years of age can enter to win. Three schools are coming to play but only 3 people, one from each school, can play. Harry plays. But he's not 18 so a lot of people get mad. I won't tell you what else happens, so get the book and read it!

I gave this a 5 'cause this is a grat book and it lets out your imagination!

I have to admit that I enjoyed book four less than the other three--when I read it in English. For some reason the story seemed fragmentary, overly complex, and poorly focused. I felt the movie brought a greater sense of direction and theme to the story. After having read the book again in French, however, I'm inclined to feel I misjudged it. I suppose, having to focus my own attention more closely to read the material in a foreign language, I saw the mental lines along which the story was constructed more clearly. The author is truely brilliant.

As before, this book in French, too, is a wonderful way to learn the language. Book four is definitely more complex in vocabularly and gramatical structure than the earlier books, just as it is in English, but also as in English, it coaxes the reader along, encouraging him or her to stretch a little bit to understand that word or that sentence, to be just a bit more patient and put it all together. Reading Harry in French gave me once again that same sense of joy I had when learning to read in the first place.

I bought the French translation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for my son who began his first year of French this year in Middle School. It has been great fun and encouragement for him. His teacher found it fun as well, reading short excerpts from it to the French class. Everyone loves Harry!