Mythology and Folklore Books

Vila SpiderHawk has done it again! Forest Song: Finding Home, tells the story of a girl, Judy, who leaves the ironclad security of her family home for her beloved forest. She encounters wonderful, magical creatures, wise ones, and Matka Lasu, who teaches her the ways of the wonders of the forest and of nature through a very special lens. Judy visits the home she left, and cannot wait to return to her new forest home. This is a stirring story, masterfully written for young and old alike. A definite MUST read for SpiderHawk fans!

I was given Vila Spiderhawk's first book, Hidden Passages, and didn't expect to like it. But, much to my surprise I liked it a great deal, and bought this one because of that. I like this one as much as the first; even more perhaps, because there's a lot of beautiful writing about nature in it. The story is about Judy, a little girl who is on a magical woodland journey to womanhood. A beautiful story.

With words as magical as the realms she so skillfully describes, Vila Spiderhawk's charming voice shines through the pages of "Forest Song: Finding Home".
Spellbinding bits of wisdom are delightfully threaded through the fibers of a most enchanting story, in which harsh reality and blissful fantasy dance gracefully together.
The reader can't help identifying with at least one of the wonderful characters in the story, especially Judy, the young and courageous little girl whom, under the watchful eye of her teacher Matka Lasu, is gradually initiated into the mysteries of womanhood, birth and death; through Judy's eyes, one sees the connection with all expressions of life and glimpses at the greater concept of being part of a whole.
In the end, as Judy finds herself reflected into the very thing she feared in the beginning, she discovers that embracing one's fears is the road that will lead to one's true power.
"Forest Song: Finding Home" is a book I will not soon forget, and I certainly believe that it is a must-read for all who seek greater enlightenment, or even for those who just need a good story to brighten their day.

- Sandra Carrington-Smith, Author of "The Book of Obeah" and "Housekeeping For The Soul"
http://www.bookofobeah.com

A Tale about a little girl and magickal creatures that help her in her journey!!! Vila Has A splendid style of writing you will love! I recommend this book highly!!!

This is an amazing book! SpiderHawk really puts the reader into the action. I could see the trees, hear the birds, taste the food, smell the woods! I wept for Judy's mother and for Judy. And I laughed as well. The writing is beautiful! I can't recommend this book highly enough. Anyone would love this book!

400 years of Afro-American folklore are represented in From My People, a fine volume gathering a diverse range of tales, from Brer Rabbit and African motifs to proverbs, recipes, and folk songs. It's the range of writings which sets From My People apart from competing collections on Afro-American oral traditions, making for a comprehensive and important title.

It is a sad fact of our times that the folklore of Black America is almost a vanishing art. As a folklorist, historian, and story teller, it saddens me that I often ask kids if their parents tell them any stories and they don't have a clue, and our older folks tales of Old John, Anancy, Brer Rabbit, the Signifying Monkey, Shine and the Titanic, Raw Head and Bloody Bones, etc. are unknown to most people of my age and younger.

Fortunately, people like Prof. Daryl C. Dance are doing what they can to rectify this situation by anthologies such as this. She does an excellent job not only in preserving this kind of material but also the classic folk sermons of Rev. C.L. Franklin and lesser known preachers as well as songs and children's games. Material such as this has been done before, especially by Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Dorson, and Roger Abrahams, but not very recently.

So overall, this book is a treasure. However,as much fun as Black folklore is to read, its better if watched or heard orally. Somebody needs to make a CD or DVD documentary of this sort of thing (hint hint to my fellow folklorists and scholars out there).

This huge anthology covers black folklore going back to slavery and up to the latest classic email story. Poems, spirituals, great speeches and famous sermons are included. There is a chapter on little written about black crafts and art and culural activities such as step shows and rent parties. It could be argued that the book is too big. Bibles and dictionaries weigh less than it does but From My People is a reference book. It gives a quick overview of 400 years of folklore. This should be in school libraries across the land.

Kimberley Lindsay Wilson, author of Work It! The Black Woman's Guide to Success at Work.

For most people, the term "folklore" probably conjures the image of songs and stories, but as Daryl Cumber Dance illustrates, it's much more than that. It's about quilts and the history they embody. It's about hair styles, dress, food, traditions of marching bands, sermons, speeches...even internet rumors and graffiti. As one chapter is headed, it's about "The Style of Soul."

Start at any topic that piques your interest, and I promise, you'll find it impossible to put this book down. There are surprises around every corner...for example, I was delighted to find a low fat recipe for greens!

This vast, rich book belongs in every library.
Curator, AfroAmericanHeritage dot com

How often have we sat at the feet of our elders and heard stories imparted to us regarding the days gone by? Handed down through the generations, these tales were not only meant for entertainment purposes, they impart wisdom and provide a living lesson. In 400 YEARS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN FOLKLORE, author Daryl Cumber Dance has created a compilation of folktales, folk music - including spirituals and freedom songs - as well as blues and ballads, folk arts and crafts, proverbs and many other pearls of wisdom that breed familiarity in the Black community. The African slave trade tore our early ancestors from their native lands, stripping them of their individual identities and beliefs, yet our strong forefathers were able to maintain some of their culture and the stories that were once told to them.

Ms. Dance does a wonderful job in capturing the vernacular used in some of the stories as well as providing some historical background to set a frame of reference for her readers. Each story and every entry into this collection caught my attention. I was compelled through the pages by my curiosity and to be reminded of days gone by. Each was very well put together, yet I found my favorite folk tale to be "De Ways of De Wimmens" which is a humorous short tale revolving around Adam and Eve's first days together and the establishment of gender roles. This story literally had me laughing out loud because even today, I can relate to the basic truth found in this tale.

400 YEARS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN FOLKLORE is not just a collection of folk tales. Don't get me wrong, Ms. Dance does rightful justice in providing glimpses into our dynamic society. She reaches back into the early days, guides us through the civil rights era by including powerful sermons by Reverend C.L. Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson and many more. She even addresses some of today's disconcerting issues, such as urban gentrification and gang violence.

In summary, the selections included in this book run the gamut throughout the reaches of time. It provides glimpses into the strong traditions held by the Black community and imparts some wisdom as to how these traditions may have taken root. In writing 400 YEARS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN FOLKLORE, Ms. Dance stated, "My goal throughout my career and in this anthology has been to collect, transcribe, preserve and respect the integrity of the folk text." In my humble opinion, she did just that. Ms. Dance should be lauded for her efforts.


Reviewed by Nedine
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

No wonder this book won the BEA's Best YA Fiction award. Truly, a delightful read. Interesting characters, captivating plot, with splashes of humor. What an amazing, interesting world the author has created. In a way, she reminds me of a female Carlos Casteneda, as the young Hispanic college professor embarks on a spiritual journey (albeit at the whims of her zany ancient ancestor who appears in different animal forms) and undertakes the art of white magic to help her family, in particular, that militant sister of hers who is always getting into trouble. LOL.

No sorprende nada que este libro haya ganado el primer premio en la categoria de "Young Adult Fiction" en espanol en Expoamerica de la American Librarians Association. Presenta el tema de un modo divertido y ameno. El lector aprende bastante sobre los angeles y su importancia en la vida sin tener que "estudiar" tal materia. Excelente.

Este libro sobre los angeles me encanto por completo. Encontre tanta informacion util. Ademas, hay una historia (ficcion) que cuenta las aventuras de una joven profesora y su familia y amigas. Por medio de las cosas que les pasan pude entender como usar los poderes de los angeles en mi vida. Fui a carolinadasilva.com y supe que la autora ha escrito 5 libros en esta serie sobre la magia. Voy a leer todos.

Fuego Angelical es un libro muy interesante, tanto para quienes interesan adquirir conocimiento básico sobre los ángeles, como para aquellos que desean deleitarse con una técnica de construcción literaria novedosa, diferente, refrescante y entretenida. En la historia, Carolina Da' Silva se comunica con el espíritu de una antepasada, quien había sido curandera hace más de un siglo y quien además, se llama como ella (Doña Carolina). Doña Carolina le ofrece datos básicos sobre los orígenes, poderes y las formas de invocar a los ángeles. También, le revela cómo construir amuletos específicos para invocar la ayuda angelical e información detallada sobre cada uno de los 72 ángeles de los nuevos coros, de los ángeles planetarios y sus asociaciones zodiacales. Sin embargo, cuando uno está leyendo el texto le parece estar leyendo una novela. En la historia Carolina Da' Silva, su hermana adolescente, Angela y su amiga Brinna están interesadas en la magia angelical por diferentes motivos. Carolina y Brinna practican la magia Wicca y ambas aportan sus conocimientos sobre rituales mágicos y hasta recetas de cocina para atraer la presencia de los ángeles. Mientras que Angela, es una adolescente típica que tiene problemas por su rebeldía hacia los adultos y su hermana trata de que aprenda a protegerse de los peligros de la vida invocando la ayuda de los ángeles. La narración se relaciona con los incidentes de la vida de los tres personajes. El conocimiento se entrelaza con la narrativa y hace que la lectura sea fácil, entretenida e instructiva.

Even though this book in Spanish I was able to read the English manuscript while working on the cover artwork.

I very much enjoyed this book. It is the perfect combination of fictional novel and how-to book. There are lessons on conjuring fairies, finding your spirit guide etc. All woven into a very interesting and engrossing story about a woman and her long dead native american grandmother.

I would rate this book among one of my favorites for a good entertaining read. I think you'll enjoy it too!

“Galveston … Lore, Legend, & Downright Lies” is a delightful , entertaining potpourri of life in days gone by on Texas’ famed island city, once known as the Wall Street of the South. The city boasted electric lights and the best of practically everything west of the Mississippi.

The collection of stories was compiled by Gini Fendler-Brown and Max Rizley Jr., Texas writers, and published by Eakin Press, Austin, Texas in a 164 page package sure to please history-lovers near and far.

“Galveston … Lore…” brings to the reader stories ranging from the disastrous 1900 hurricane -- the worst natural disaster to occur in this country, to the fact that the extinct Karankawa Indians cared for Cabeza de Vaca and his shipwrecked party in 1588, and tales of fabled pirate-patriot-lover Jean LaFitte.

Stories abound telling of the history of Galveston’s moniker as “The Oleander City” and the true origin of the Oleanders, to the fact that Galvestonians took on the challenge to rebuild after the 1900 storm and physically raised 2,100 structures above the sand during the city grade raising to avoid any repeat of the disaster. Extreme hardship, loss and Pride.

The book, easy to read and hard to put down, is bound to be a big winner for all who are fortunate enough to get their hands on it.

Galveston Island is home to a unique community. Although it is connected to the Texas Gulf Coast by two bridges and a ferry service, in many ways it is its own society separated by much more than a mere few miles of saltwater.

This book takes us into the distant and more recent history of the island and its colorful inhabitants, telling us stories in a way that leaves one feeling like you're sitting around a fire at a family reunion recalling old friends, neighbors and family members. Some stories one might tell only in hushed whispers. Others provoke knowing interjections from all quarters. These are tales that deserve to be shared far outside the circle of sand.

Whether you were born on the island and want to learn about the gossip you might have missed, or live far away and merely wonder what life is like in a seaside city, this book delivers. From pirates to revered community traditions, it explores a vast scope of history in an easy way that leaves you wanting more.

Caution: You may be tempted to move to Galveston after reading this book, if you don't already live there.

Gini and Max's book captures the essence of Galveston past, with first-hand reminiscences of people who lived that past. Most of us know the main outline of Galveston history, but this book tells the stories of ordinary people, going about their lives on this sliver of sand in the Gulf of Mexico. Gini has been telling her stories to audiences for years in the bandstand behind Ashton Villa during breaks in the band concert. Max helps shape these stories into delightful nuggets you will want to savor while lying on wet sand. Experience Galveston all over again, and next time you're there in person, go to an old-fashioned band concert and listen to the history lady tell a new tale.

“Galveston … Lore, Legend, & Downright Lies” is a delightful , entertaining potpourri of life in days gone by on Texas’ famed island city, once known as the Wall Street of the South. The city boasted electric lights and the best of practically everything west of the Mississippi.

The collection of stories was compiled by Gini Fendler-Brown and Max Rizley Jr., Texas writers, and published by Eakin Press, Austin, Texas in a 164 page package sure to please history-lovers near and far.

“Galveston … Lore…” brings to the reader stories ranging from the disastrous 1900 hurricane -- the worst natural disaster to occur in this country, to the fact that the extinct Karankawa Indians cared for Cabeza de Vaca and his shipwrecked party in 1588, and tales of fabled pirate-patriot-lover Jean LaFitte.

Stories abound telling of the history of Galveston’s moniker as “The Oleander City” and the true origin of the Oleanders, to the fact that Galvestonians took on the challenge to rebuild after the 1900 storm and physically raised 2,100 structures above the sand during the city grade raising to avoid any repeat of the disaster. Extreme hardship, loss and Pride.

The book, easy to read and hard to put down, is bound to be a big winner for all who are fortunate enough to get their hands on it.

I was born on the island, and heard many stories from my father and mother, and my grandparents, uncles and aunts. However, Max and Gini's book has filled in all the gaps, either out of my own memory bank, or the stuff just left out by a father, protecting his daughter from the "sordid" tales. Galveston: Lore, Legend and Downright Lies has added even more to my "love of the island." I have bought the book twice, once for myself and once for my father. He loves it! I plan on ordering more from Amazon for Xmas gifts. A great "thumber" and definitely should be a part of everyone's home library. Thank you, Max, and Gini, and Robert John, and Amazon.....the world needs more books like this one!

really intersting read with lots of interesting facts, not for the faint hearted, makes you think and relise alot of different things

Extremely fascinating text! It is no surprise Oxford University Press chose to publish this work. Whether the reader is a scholar specializing in the folklore of the British Isles, a student enrolled in a Viking seminar, or an individual with an interest in the topic, this work is informative and captivating. The text not only aids the reader in his or her study of British Isle folklore, but allows the reader to draw connections between Scandinavian culture on the mainland and other isles. I have read a fair amount of works concerning this topic, but none have kept me as interested as "Gods, Heroes, & Kings." A definite buy!

Gods, Heroes, and Kings: The Battle for Mythic Britain

Gods, Heroes, and Kings, written by Christopher R. Fee and David A. Leeming and published in 2001 by Oxford University Press is a fine overall introduction to the mythologies of the pre-Christian inhabitants of the British Isles, who can be divided into two groups, each of which, in turn, has two subdivisions. First came the Celts, both Goidelic (Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man) and Brythonic (Wales, Cornwall and the French region of Brittany).
Most of the mythology of the Celts was written down long after the coming of Christianity to Ireland and Wales. Many Deities appear in both literatures, but the precise relationship between the religions of the two main branches of the Celts is not completely clear.
Long afterward came the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, a loose assemblage of Germanic tribes who became the English and transformed most of the island of Great Britain into England (Angle-Land). These newcomers wrote down little of their mythology, but a fair amount of it can be reconstructed by comparing off-hand references in works such as Beowulf with the much more extant mythology of Scandinavia, many of whose inhabitants raided and later settled in the British Isles during the Viking Era.
While closely related, certainly more so than the religions of the Goidelic and Brythonic Celts, the precise relationship between the Troth of the Heathen Anglo-Saxons and that of the Viking-Age Scandinavians, as well as the relationship between both of them and the pre-Christian beliefs of the Continental Germanic peoples (German, Dutch, and Frisian speakers) will probably always remain a bone of scholarly contention.
Despite being a work of more recent scholarship, Gods, Heroes, and Kings reflects in many ways the scholarship of the 1970's and 1980's, with considerable influence from the work of the late Joseph Campbell, author of the book The Hero with a Thousand Faces and the Masks of God series. The prominent influence of this scholar rather surprised me, as his ideas seem to be at the present time somewhat out of favor. However, just as in mythology and in clothing fashions, the popularity of ideas and theories in Academia can also have a cyclical element.
The writing style is very readable, and the combination of a section retelling a myth with a section commenting on it is both effective and enjoyable to read. The main idea of this book is that the battle for mythic Britain was not "a struggle between factions of ancient gods and heroes, but rather a war of attrition, a continual reformulation and assertion of age-old archetypes in the garb most appropriate for the audience who heard their stories" (p. 192). Many of the mythic themes survived Christianization amazingly intact, and contributed to the uniqueness of the Christianity of the British Isles.
Much attention is given to heroic themes, and the authors hold that the mythic Hero is actually Everyman (and Everywoman), and the Gods, including by implication Yahweh, are "competing masks of the same ancient beings," and that the masks are just the surface of what they represent (p. 220). Obviously, this is not a theological idea which most Heathens, nor for that matter most Christians would embrace wholeheartedly, but nevertheless it does open the door for fertile theorizing on such topics as the nature and essence of Divinity and the relationship between the Pantheons and Deities of different religions.
The persistence of these mythical themes, both mythological and heroic, is due to the fact that "certain universal concerns remain constant: proper planting, fertile soil, a timely and sufficient harvest (p. 220) and so "the battle for mythic Britain represents the ongoing attempt by humans everywhere to make sense of their present reality by drawing on those aspects of past traditions that fit the most appropriate mask" (p. 221).
The chapter headings of this work provide a good idea of what it contains: The Pantheons, already alluded to in this review, Deity Types, Sacred Objects and Places, Heroes and Heroines, Creation and Apocalypse, and The Sagas (in the broader sense of the term, not just the Icelandic ones). The conclusion of the book is "Five Reflections on the Face of the Hero in the Medieval English Romance - Trials, Tribulations, and Transformative Quests."
As I read Gods, Heroes, and Kings, I found that my overall impression of the book kept going up and down. The lack of footnotes is at least mildly disturbing in a scholarly work. However, the inclusion of fine a "further reading" section together with an impressive bibliography partly makes up for this serious flaw. I am left with the impression that it is trying to be both a scholarly and popular work, with mixed success.
For the Heathen reader, this book is a fine introduction to some of the major extant Celtic myths, and a good overview of our own lore. It is also a good beginning to the important and fascinating Heathen scholarly task of comparing and contrasting Germanic lore with that of the Celts, whose languages are related to the our own tongues, and in terms of geography, history and culture are even more closely our kin. This is a question which most serious Heathen scholars will sooner or later find themselves looking at. The book also provides much material for unraveling how ancient mythological themes continue to influence the core ideas of our culture, and shows one way in which our Gods and Goddesses managed to remain active among us during the centuries in which their worship, where it continued at all, was the furtive undertaking of a very few people.
All in all, I do recommend that you read Gods, Heroes, and Kings. It can be read and enjoyed on a number of different levels, and the fact that Oxford University Press chose to publish it says much. In addition, it is nice for a change to review a book that is in print and readily available at a reasonable price!
Patrick "Jordsvin" Buck
http://home.earthlink.net/~jordsvin

This book is a great read. It's obviously well-researched, and filled with intriguing facts. Furthermore, Fee has a writing style that draws the reader in and keeps him/her interested throughout. Highly recommended!

Drs. Christopher Fee and David Leeming have crafted an extraordinary work examining the marriage of Celtic, Germanic, and Norse cultures and religious beliefs in Britain (particularly as they are seen via the literary traditions that chronicled them) in an effort to understand how the impact of pre-Christian peoples influenced the unique Christianity of Medieval Britain. While Dr. Leeming has provided extensive retellings of pagan myths, Dr. Fee has written insightful analyses of these myths and their import to the creation of a British religious ideology. Beginning with a scrutiny of the various pagan pantheons, the work then moves through detailed examinations of, among other things, types of deities, heroes and heroines, and the different sagas of the individual cultures. As an apocalypticist, I found the retellings and subsequent commentaries on Ragnarok and the Anglo-Saxon Fire of Judgment immensely informative and useful.
This is an extraordinarily accessible book. It is intended for the non-specialist and, as such, would be perfect for an undergraduate survey course, for an upper-level topical course on British mythology/religion, or for any scholar seeking an understanding of Britain's pre-Christian culture. I would also recommend it highly as a handbook for any medievalist who needs quick and informed accounts of any and all of these topics. Not only have Drs. Fee and Leeming eloquently opened up the field of pagan Britain to further inquiry and discussion, but they have done so in a work that is, above all, easy and enjoyable to read.

A approach of academic study to common reader interest. A excellent book for ritual understanding. The Frazer's Golden Bough is one of more sold around the world and is also one of more controversial within academic society because its author broken one of its dogmas - written without the academic language vicious.

This is a wonderful book on the origin of beliefs, culture and
classic ceremonies. For instance, the Native American Indians
regarded a person's name as a part of their personality.
In Bohemia, children carry a straw man out of the village to
cast out death. Aphrodite and Old Paphos constitute one of the
most celebrated shrines in the ancient world. In death and
resurrection, Egyptians celebrated life after death. At Lagos in
Guinea, young women were impaled by custom after spring equinox
in order to secure a good crop that year. Festivities were
prepared in order to coincide with the summer and winter solstices.

The work would be perfect for students of world culture,
fine arts, language and literature.

An "uncensored" abridged version,
full of speculation about Christ. Sure to get the evangelicals lighting their torches,
to storm this Castle of Prometheus.

This book is a seminal work because it had a crucial influence on four important works of the twentieth century: T. S. Elliott's poem the Waste Land, Joseph Campbell's Hero with a Thousand Faces, Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code, and Francis Ford Coppolla's movie Apocalypse Now, screenplay by John Milius.

Sir James George Frazer's book written in 1922 was a groundbreaking work on ancient religion, paganism, and roots of early Christianity. Frazer does an in-depth examination of the sacrificial killing of god-kings to ensure bountiful harvests, which Frazer traces through several cultures, including in his elaborations the myths of Adonis, Osiris, and Balder.

Frazer spent his life writing fifteen volumes of history of myth and religion. This book sums up his theory of magic and its connections to paganism, as well as fusing ideas from Jessie L. Weston's book From Ritual To Romance and Gnostic texts that serve as a link to early Christianity's influence from ancient nature cults. His chapter titles say much about where his work goes and why it is so influential on iconic twentieth century works. The King of the Wood explains the original nature of the task imposed upon the hero, it undoubtedly influenced both Campbell's and Coppola's works. The Myths of Adonis, Attis, and Osiris looks to establish a chain of descent connecting early Aryan and Babylonian ritual with classic, Medieval and modern forms of nature worship. Our Debt to the Savage explains the role of the Medicine Man or doctor in fertility ritual. The Killing of the Devine King analyzes how this title is prevalent in so many of humankind's legends, and was a definite influence on Coppola's Colonel Kurtz character. Sacrifice of the King's Son regarded as an object of awe certainly influenced The Da Vinci Code.

Frazer's book is interesting and fun to read. I especially became interested in it from the movie Apocalypse Now. There is a scene in the movie that shows Colonel Kurtz's nightstand in his cave. Weston's book is one of three on the nightstand. The other two are Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, which the film is based on. The other book is Jessie L. Weston's book From Ritual To Romance. Anyone wanting to understand the movie Apocalypse Now, especially the character of Colonel Kurtz, and what Milius and Copolla were trying to tell their audience need to read these three books!

As a graduate student reading in philosophy and history I recommend this book for anyone interested in literature, myth, history, philosophy, religion and fans of Apocalypse Now.

I'll skip reviewing the content and speak to book's edition. This is the one that was abridged by the author from a multi-volume, earlier edition. In later years, the tome was watered down and censored due to authorial speculation on the nature of Jesus. All the controversial ideas are present in this particular edition, so it is safe to purchase it and not feel cheated.

I remember reading this book from a 1980's edition. The illustrations were all in black & white. I liked this version of the Golem because it give a background into Jewish life in Prague in the Middle Ages, and how the Jews were pretty much at the mercy of the local populace and how the Jews were required by law to be second-class citizens.
My problem with the book is the last chapter, where the wife uses the Golem for some far-out treasure hunting project, breaking the "safety mechanism" in the Golem (in the original story the Rabbi just gets careless and uses the Golem for "help"). The part where the servant falls in love with the "evolving" Golem was silly. The story doesn't need a romantic subplot, and I can't see a love-struck teenage girl being attracted to a large clay statue.

Nonetheless, the illustrations are great and any kid who likes Harry Potter ought to like this story.

The Golem, as told by IB Singer, is a traditional Jewish mystical short story of a superhuman giant, made of clay, who is brought to life by the most religious rabbi in order to save Jews in times of trouble. And although it is a "children's" story, there are many layers of symbolism to keep adults interested. This particular edition was especially well done. I appreciated the artwork and overall esthetic presentation of the book.

I came to this book after reading Michael Chabon's Pulitzer Prize winning The Amazing Adventures of Kavallier and Clay, the "Clay" in the title being the last name of one of the main characters, but also the substance from which the rabbi made the golem. Chabon heavily alludes to and borrows from this story, the Golem of Prague, though never quite lets the reader know that this is what he's referring to, almost assuming that the reader already knows about it, which is for most people not the case. So it was especially rewarding to finally read the story.

This seeming children's story is really a parable for adults (which children can enjoy and eventually get on another level when they are ready). There are many well crafted sentences about the spiritual life, how to surrender into trusting God to take care of your life, about the hidden saints who help our life on Earth work, how to use our free choice, how to live in community with others, how to relate to believers and nonbelievers, how to handle being falsely accused, and how to be humble with power. You can taste a whole way of life behind the story which might be worth living or open it at random and find some messages that relate to challenges we meet in daily life.

El Golem tiene todos los ingredientes que necesita un relato para funcionar, pero en este caso, además, está escrito por Singer. Esto significa que el cuento está bellamente narrado. Singer cuenta de manera simple aún las historias más complejas.

The Golem is one fo the best known Singer short stories. Its theme is a Golem, a mythical figure imbued with life by cabalistic magic to help the Jewish people in a time of need.

This story begins with persecutions on Jews in Prague, which is when the Golem is sent to Reb Leib. After helping the Jews in their objective, Reb Leib decides to use the Golem, with its incredible strenght, for a less noble pursuit, which is when the Golem starts to disobey him. The story unfolds with the Golem, a creature made of clay, turning more and more human, with the mauturity of a child but enormous strenght. The probelms mount as the Golem destroys all in his way, falls in love (reciprocatedly) and gets drafted by the emperor.

The short story evokes many deep issues, such as what it means to be human, what one should do with unending power, what one should do to preserve the peace, and many others. Though originally a childrens story, any adult would enjoy it. It is the type of story that leaves one reflecting about certain issues for days.

This is the kind of book that makes studying history fascinating and rewarding. By investigating one of the gaps in our knowledge- the question of who the Sophists were and what they represented- Madame de Romilly is able to put a crucially important missing piece back into our picture of Ancient Greece and Athens. The entire world of 5th century Athens looks different in light of this "revelation". She was able to hit upon what was a crucial, missing factor, namely the role of the Sophists and their doctrines. Through her own reconstructions of this important role, she is able to develop a picture of the Sophists that makes sense, is consistent with what was being said about them, and shines a new light on the Ancient Greek intellectual landscape.

This is "the other side of the story"- i.e. intellectual history of 5th century Athens as NOT told by Plato. For someone who has "felt" the absence of this missing element, it fills in alot of gaps and answers a lot of questions one had. Finally, things make sense. One sees the intellectual ties that bind Aristophanes, Thucydides, Euripides, as well as Plato and Socrates. Finally, Ancient Greek intellectualism isnt just about Plato and Socrates. We get a view to the progenitors of the revolution in thought that sparked the flowering of the 5th century.

Be warned, this book will be most interesting to those with an ardent interest in and prior knowledge of 1) philosophy, 2) the history of philosophy, 3) 5th century Athenian/Hellenic thought. Its discussions can be dry and involved towards the middle. Yet the style is very appealing and readable.

In my eyes, the interest and importance of this book can hardly be overstated.

It seems this book has left nothing out when dealing with the Sophists; her thesis is well thought out, defended, and explained with meticulous detail. I give it five stars because it serves its purpose, but if you open this book with little background on the subject (like me) then it can become a bit grueling.

I haven't read this book but the Sophists fascinate me. How good is this book?

"The Great Sophists" by Jacqueline de Romilly is a thorough and first class book on an important but rarely studied aspect of ancient Greek thought: the Sophists.

Ms. de Romilly is a great French classicist with numerous thoughtful publications to her credit of which "The Great Sophists" is the most recent.

The Sophists have historically had an evil reputation as the first cultural and moral relativists; as corruptors of virtue; and for degrading philosophy.

Ms. de Romilly attempts to demonstrate that this view is due to a variety of factors (primarily Plato's laregly negative characterization of them and the dearth of Sophistic texts)which can and should be re-examined.

She attempts to lay out, to the best of the knowledge available to us, exactly what the Sophists teachings actually were; their similarities with many of Socrates views; and why Plato viewed them with hostile but at times ambivalent feelings.

In all of this Ms. de Romilly does a superb job of rooting out every reference to the Sophists in ancient literature as well as their own statements (often from hostile witnesses like Plato). With this awkward mass of material Ms. de Romilly has fashioned a very interesting and useful work that diserves a prominent place in the history of Greek thought. With the notable exception of Kerford's "The Sophistic Movement" it is difficult to recall any modern work other than Ms. de Romilly's that attempts to so thoroughly arrive at what the Sophists actually believed and what their effect was on Greek thought and civilization.

The most important question though is does she finally redeem the Sophists from the charges of amorality and corruption that were assigned to them? Ultimately I do not think believe she can regardless of how neutral a face she puts on her analysis and how much she endeavors to redeem their thought. As with so much ancient literature it is deeply sad that we do not pocess more texts by the sophists themselves. Given that we do not and given what remains, it seems that Plato was entirely in the right to cast them in the evil light that he did. But that is certainly no reason not to buy and learn from this terrific work of scholarship.

In the "Golden Age of Pericles" Athens was a Mecca for the world's great thinkers and artists. Democracy was flourishing and demand rose for the kind of education to take advantage of it. Enter the Sophists! Sophist means master of intelligence. The Sophists, such as Protagoras, Gorgias, Prodicus, Hippias, and Thrasymachus introduced intellectual education for a fee. They taught the would-be Athenian aristocrat how to speak well and out-think their opponents. Rhetoric and politics were closely connected since rhetoric prepared the Athenian with a way to enter public office. In an emerging democracy the Sophists offered a means to power.

Jacqueline de Romilly, a former Professor of Greek Language and Literature at the College de France, has written a compelling book on these interesting yet controversial thinkers in Fifth Century Greece. It is a difficult subject to write on since most of the writings of the Sophists has been lost. We largely rely on Plato and others who wrote of the Sophists to get an idea of their methods and ideology. We know that they were rationalists as opposed to metaphysical thinkers. Philosophy shifted from the cosmos to man. Protagoras wrote "Man is the measure of all things." It was a revolutionary departure from anything up to that time. To the Sophists, there was no objective truth, justice or virtue. It was whatever man determined they were. Truth could change depending on time and circumstances. Every argument had two sides and a Sophist could take either side and be effective.

To the students of the Sophists this new thinking offered an education that was superior to what others had and it was fast and paid immediate dividends. It became a powerful movement that effected Pericles, the historian and general, Thucydides, and Xenophon. Playwrights such as Euripides was also greatly influenced by the Sophists, but they had their critics as well. Aristophanes lampooned them and Socrates criticized them for taking virtues that bind a society together and reducing it to a utilitarian means of seeking power.

Probably no single idea had a greater impact on the classical period of ancient Greece than did the Sophists. De Romilly has done an excellent job in presenting their views. The casual reader may have difficulty with concepts presented here and may require a couple of readings but for those who want to truly understand one of the most focused periods in ancient studies this book should be a requirement.

I LIKED THIS BOOK - I ORDERED IT FOR MY SEVEN YEAR OLD AND READ IT TO HIM. THE CARTOON FORMAT IS FUN AND THE TEXT IS TRUE TO THE ORIGINAL MYTHS. SOME OF THE HUMOUR WAS OVER HIS HEAD, BUT IF YOU STICK TO THE TEXT AND LEAVE OUT THE DIALOGUE "BUBBLES" THE STORIES ARE WELL TOLD.

My daughter is 10, and loves this book. Her Grandmother gave it to her when she was about 5. She reads it with her Grandmother whenever possible. I notice it has helped with her reading a great deal. She will "act" out the characters while they read and gets very into the stories. Her favorite is Pandora's Box. The stories are a great educational tool, she is learning lessons and doesn't even realize it. She will ask questions and want to know more about different subjects brought up in the stories.
I recommend this book highly!

Does your child look at you blankly when you mention "Pandora's Box"? Do they think that "Hercules" is a Disney-originated character? Even the most stubborn young reader will get a kick out of this comic book version of some of the Greek myths, and you will too when you read the hilarious little speech boxes of the cartoon drawings.

This book introduces the following myths in a very basic bare-bones format, but without sparing the gory bits:

Pandora's Box - starring Prometheus, Zeus, Epimetheus and Pandora

Arion and the Dolphins - starring Periander and Arion, with a cast of a couple dozen extras and some dolphins

Orpheus and Eurydice - otherwise known as "Don't Look Back", featuring Orpheus and Eurydice of course, plus Charon, Cerberus, Pluto and Persephone

The Twelve tasks of Heracles (also known as Hercules) - this story also has Hera, Eurystheus, some Amazons, and a lot of beasts and monsters. Some animals were reportedly injured during the making of this story.

Daedalus and Icarus - also with Athene and King Minos

Perseus and the Gorgon's Head - Acrisius, Danae, Perseus, Dictys, Polydectes, Athene, Hermes, plus the all-girl groups of Gorgons, Grey Ones and Ocean Nymphs.

Theseus and the Minotaur - King Minos, Theseus, Aegeus, Ariadne, and a Minotaur in a labyrinth

Arachne versus Athene - A weave-off to end all weave-offs

Illustrated in vivid color and injected with humor, this book may not have all the myths, but will be enough to develop your child's interest in mythology. You can also make a note to try the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (young adult fiction), which also introduces Greek mythology.



Amanda Richards, July 2, 2006

This book was very funny. I liked the comic strips. My favorite story was the one about Perseus and the Gorgon head. My five year old sister loved this book too. Her favorite story was the one about Arachne.

When I first saw this book, before giving it to my son, I didn't think he would care for the format of it. Boy, was I wrong. I guess 5 year old boys have different tastes than their moms. We had to read this every night for months! Some of the comic strips are kind of gross, but of course, he loved that too. If your child is interested in Hercules, he or she will probably LOVE learning about all the other heroes (and villains) in Greek mythology. I highly recommend this book.

Charles Edwin Price, along with other folklorists, such as Michael Paul Henson and William Lynwood Montell, is the perfect storyteller of supernatural legends in Appalacia. This is a wonderful compilation of such stories in that it is educational as well as entertaining, for he includes informative motifs with each legend he tells. A must-have for collectors of folklore, and those interested in a good read, whether or not they believe in the supernatural.

I was born and raised in Kingsport and I even met the author of this book when he came to my high school in 1996. The name is a little hokey but the book is extremely well written and the research is very good, it even includes some newspaper clippings. This book is well worth the price and the read!

I grew up around the area he is speaking of in this book. I remember many of these things happening myself. I was so glad to know I was not the only one to experience these strange things. I loved this book! I can't wait to buy more!

This is a fascinating book. The places are real (and some are rather creepy) and the stories are supposedly true. Every story will draw you in. The history and research the author did was extensive. This is a book you could very well (regretfully) finish in one sitting.

This was a very suspenseful book. It has many short stories in it and all are suppose to be true. Many are folklore that was passed down and most have some eyewitness testimony. My favorite was the one called "A Part Of The Dark Is Moving". Every story takes place at real place in East Tennessee. This is a must have for anyone who likes old fashion ghost stories or folklore.