Mythology and Folklore Books

ABC-CLIO's wonderful handbooks on world mythology offer in-depth explorations linking traditional cultural myths to insights on behavior and ideals, and Handbook Of Chinese Mythology is an essential reference for any high school to college-level collection with a Chinese studies program. From main sources of myths and their importance to Chinese society and psyche to a timeline of myths as they evolved through Chinese history and a survey of the myths and themes themselves, Handbook Of Chinese Mythology is a real winner.

ABC-CLIO's wonderful handbooks on world mythology offer in-depth explorations linking traditional cultural myths to insights on behavior and ideals, and Handbook Of Chinese Mythology is an essential reference for any high school to college-level collection with a Chinese studies program. From main sources of myths and their importance to Chinese society and psyche to a timeline of myths as they evolved through Chinese history and a survey of the myths and themes themselves, Handbook Of Chinese Mythology is a real winner.

ABC-CLIO's wonderful handbooks on world mythology offer in-depth explorations linking traditional cultural myths to insights on behavior and ideals, and Handbook Of Chinese Mythology is an essential reference for any high school to college-level collection with a Chinese studies program. From main sources of myths and their importance to Chinese society and psyche to a timeline of myths as they evolved through Chinese history and a survey of the myths and themes themselves, Handbook Of Chinese Mythology is a real winner.

ABC-CLIO's wonderful handbooks on world mythology offer in-depth explorations linking traditional cultural myths to insights on behavior and ideals, and Handbook Of Chinese Mythology is an essential reference for any high school to college-level collection with a Chinese studies program. From main sources of myths and their importance to Chinese society and psyche to a timeline of myths as they evolved through Chinese history and a survey of the myths and themes themselves, Handbook Of Chinese Mythology is a real winner.

ABC-CLIO's wonderful handbooks on world mythology offer in-depth explorations linking traditional cultural myths to insights on behavior and ideals, and Handbook Of Chinese Mythology is an essential reference for any high school to college-level collection with a Chinese studies program. From main sources of myths and their importance to Chinese society and psyche to a timeline of myths as they evolved through Chinese history and a survey of the myths and themes themselves, Handbook Of Chinese Mythology is a real winner.

Ed Tripp wrote this book over the span of many years and it shows on every page. Excellent cross-references, alternate names indexed meticulously, superb background on every entry. The only downside is the paperback format - I wore my first copy out long ago!

I'm delighted to find that THE MERIDIAN HANDBOOK OF CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY is still available. My 1970 copy has served me well over the years, both as a student and as a committed reader of liturature. My seventh-grade daughter is now using my old copy. It won't survive the year. Thus, I'm pleased to find it has been reprinted. The book is arranged like a dictionary. Every name in Greek and Roman literature is listed and an identifying discussion provided. Mr. Tripp sources the entries so the curious reader can look further. The print is small. Some readers may want to use a magnifying glass.

The entries in this book are written far more clearer than in Grimal's myth dictionary. In fact I have enjoyed it more than the works of Edith Hamilton. This is a must have for any budding mythologist.

Edward Tripp's encyclopedic survey of Greek and Roman myths was originally published in hardcover 1970, in the United States by the Thomas Y. Crowell Co. as "Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology," with a simultaneous Canadian edition, and in Britain by Barker as just "The Handbook of ...". It was reissued as a trade paperback under the New American Library's Meridian imprint under title "Meridian Handbook" in 1974, and continued to be reprinted under this title, as the publishing industry was reshuffled, into the 1990s. So far as I can determine, the various editions are identical, so anyone looking for a copy can probably follow availability and price.

It now seems to be out of print, under any of the various titles, which is a shame. It is somewhat more comprehensive and generally easier to use than Kerenyi's admirable "Gods of the Greeks" and "Heroes of the Greeks," and far more reliable than Robert Graves' idiosyncratic and erratic "The Greek Myths." (One can hope for a future reprinting -- perhaps as "Tripp's Handbook..."?).

With its comprehensive coverage, and general preference for literary data over interpretation, Tripp's "Handbook" can serve as either a first-rate introduction or a convenient reference book, depending on a reader's needs and level of knowledge. A "pronouncing index" helpfully distinguishes traditional English pronunciations of names from currently favored approximations of the original Greek and Latin.

Tripp's dictionary-style arrangement of the material is easy to follow, the articles are usefully cross-referenced, and the sources in classical texts are carefully noted. The length of the article usually corresponds well to the prominence of the god or hero, but some relatively minor figures get the space needed to sort out contradictory reports. Most of the relevant classical writers get their own articles as well -- although it is often a good idea to look at the corresponding entry in Lillian Feder's "Handbook of Classical Literature" (also once published as "Crowell's Handbook...," and again as a "Meridian Handbook..." in paperback, and recently reprinted by Da Capo), for more specialized information in a similar format.

This is the best handbook of Classical Mythology I've ever encountered. It contains hundreds of entries of names (was anyone left out?), all in alphabetical order, of major and minor characters of the Greek and Roman myths. A very full account of each entry is given, including variants of many of the stories. Also included is a pronunciation index for most of the names listed. This is a tremendous resource for students and teachers alike. A great reference work.

This is a book that might cause you to just stare and admire the pictures until your kid grows impatient as to whether or not you're really going to tell the story.

The Chinese New Year, according to the lunar calendar. Around the world, Chinese families are united by this one celebration which brings back families and unites the community. It is a 15-day occasion set aside for family and bliss.

The traditional Chinese life is one of symbolism, gestures, word-play, proverbs and reverence. During Chinese New Year, these elements come to the forefront in full force that might seem like a hopeless mesh of confusion for the uninitiated but a meaningful and articulate celebration of ushering in the New Year as is practiced by generations past thousands of years ago.

During this special time, special dresses are worn, special foods are eaten, special greetings are exchanged, the adults are especially nice and the children especially happy.
I remember as a child, I would usually go with the flow and be fascinated by the various traditions observed by the adults, with a thousand questions flowing through my head at any one time. Why are tangerines and pomelos exchanged and eaten during Chinese New Year? Why are the sweet goodies on the table called the Tray of Happiness and can only be eaten during Chinese New Year? Why does my grandma cook the New Year chicken in such an unusual way?

Children are always fascinated by loud noise and sparks. What's behind the booming sound of those long, winding Chinese New Year firecrackers? What underlies the massive lion and dragon dances?

From the noisy crackers to the fine art of Chinese calligraphy and brush painting, Hiss! Pop! Boom! Celebrating Chinese New Year introduces to young readers the elaborate celebration and highlights an age-old heritage of the Chinese people with a treasure cove of beautiful illustrations and an elegantly simple narrative.

I love the writing in this great book. The author really knows how to tell a story so it will be interesting for children and adults.

The artist is actually my grandfather, so naturally, I love the book. This was a really good book, though, even if he wasn't my gong-gong, i still would have loved this book. I actually try pretty hard to find some books on asian culture, and I really liked this one. The illistrations (might i say) were beautiful. Anyway, I loved this book!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am really impressed with this book. It is written so everyone can understand the Chinese New Year / Spring Festival. The book is sepperated into the following A New Year's Legend, New Year's Traditions, Flowers and Plants, Eating together, Lion dance, Firecrackers, Fruit, Tray of Happiness, Red Envelopes, Parades, Lantern Festival which is very fitting because the Lantern Festival is the last day of the 15 day celebation. The book also includes an explaination of Chinese Calligraphy. The brush painintg pictures are beautiful and really add a lot to the book. A terrific book explaining the Chinese New Year and if you are going to own 1 book, this is the book for you!

This book is one of my all time favorites, even if it isn't a fantasy. Three days before chinese new year, I brought it to class and shared a little about it. All my friends think it's awesome, especially the drawings. A lot of my friends are asian, but have seen very little actual Chinese brush art/ calligraphy.

I recommend this book to you his book is a very hilarious book and the ending is very, very unexpected.

A girl named Reba Jo who is a cowgirl went out on her horse to the dessert. She saw a vulture on the arroyos her father had warned her not to but she went to catch the vulture.

As soon as Reba Jo threw her lasso a gust of wind came out of the arroyo. The wind had blown her new cowgirl hat into the dusty old well. Then she heard a voice say, "Que pasa, and senorita." But then, she spotted a big fat toad looking at her. "Oh" The horned toad looked at her and said, "I'll fetch your hat for you if you will do three favors for me."

Reba Jo asked "what are the three small favors." "The favors are for me to get some chilly, play me a song and let me sleep in your hat. Reba Jo said "ok" and took him home.

I really recommend this book to you. I have not told you the whole story so you should read it because after I read it I wanted to read it again and again and I wished to read more books by the author.

By Sinan Asdar
(Pakistan)

This hilarious Southwestern retelling of the Frog Prince, not only was enjoyed by my fourteen year old granddaughter, but by my four year old grandson as well. I'm sure that this book will be read many times in this house.

Jackie M. Hopkins spins a lively tale with spicy flavor. "The Horned Toad Prince" is peppered with Spanish words that are easy to understand in context with the story -- but just in case a word proves troublesome, there is a handy Spanish/English dictionary at the end of the book. Does Reba Jo meet her match in the Horned Toad? She's a feisty gal; the toad is as clever as a Texas day is hot. Enjoy!

As I read this book to my first graders they just giggled and giggled. I had their full attention for the entire book. At the end of the story we discussed our favorite part and we decided it was when the horned toad ate the bowl of chili. The illustrations are just wonderful!

This delightful tale by Jackie M. Hopkins will make you laugh out loud! Peppered with Spanish words and phrases, Reba Jo and the Horned Toad's dialogue is absolutely a hoot! Kids of all ages love to hear fractured fairy tales, and I am sure this one will be a favorite. I highly recommend this title and plan to use it in my school library!

Excellent introductory book on the acquisition of knowledge, with special emphasis on the reliability and utility of the scientific method. A must read for children. I would also recommend it to older adults who are lacking in knowledge concerning the scientific method and how sound logic and reasoning is applied.

Great book on teaching children how to think using logic and reason before coming to a conclusion. I think that this book or one just like it should be required for grade school kids. There are too many people seduced by superstitions, scams, and supernatural beings. Critical thinking classes are usually required in college, but not many people are given the chance to learn about the subject before that age. Most people hear about things like fortune telling, ghosts, and religions in childhood. Grade school is usually way before kids can make an educated conclusion about those topics unless they were taught to think critically early on in their education. The book has great true examples to illustrate how believing that supernatural things like demons or witches really exist can be dangerous.

This is a wonderful book about scientific thinking for kids older than 10. Warning to parents: this book does a number on Santa! My son (younger and not yet de-mythed) enjoyed the book immensely. I read it to him and skipped the offending paragraphs. Had the author skipped the Santa stuff this book would be great for gifted/talented kids who are much younger -- the writing is that clear and engaging!

This is an excellent book. It really does a number on superstition! I can't imagine anyone reading this book would still be superstitious. And since far too many people waste time and money on superstition (I couldn't believe one of our PRESIDENTS would change his schedule based on superstition), putting the axe in this kind of thinking at a young age, would benefit everybody (as the book so well explains).

My 8 year old was very curious about this book. I could let her read some of it, but since she has not yet learned division and multiplication, the section on probability would be completely lost on her, which is a shame, since the probability theory so well explains unusual events. This is important, since so many superstitious people would attribute the unusual events to something superstitious; using probability to explain these events defuses their so-called "proofs".

My daughter will have to wait for a while, but she will definitely read it when she is older (and so will my other - younger - daughters). This is a must for every schoolkid 10 or older (actually, it's a must for just about anybody with any superstitious tendencies, including those who believe in horoscopes).

HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S TRUE by Hy Ruchlis. Far and away the best of the best of new releases for teaching critical thinking to young people. Actually, this is for anybody, young or old, who still has a tendency to flirt with any form of superstition or fairy-tale thinking or is curious why other people do so. Ruchlis patiently leads the reader through an appreciation of science as a way of thinking about the world we live in. A short history of superstitions and the occasional horrors attributed to magical thinking (e.g., fear and persecution of "witches)" are provided, along with a delightful and entertaining commentary on astrology as an example of worseness tendencies in contemporary mental processes. Highlights include an explanation of science as a way of thinking critically, with examples of how facts are discovered. Vital to an understanding of why there is so much superstition and other forms of magical thinking is to know the history of religious repression of free thought, with stories about the struggles of such heroes of science as Nicolas Copernicus, Giordano Bruno, Galileo Galilei and the framers of our own Bill of Rights in 1789. By the way, the photos and illustrations are also terrific. But, it's words like the following that lead me to urge that you check this one out if you want to incorporate CT into wellness: "All of us stand on the shoulders of giants. Every bit of food we eat, the clothes we wear, the houses we live in and anything else we know how to make or do today would not be possible without the knowledge given to us by people who lived in the past. We must be ever grateful to the many thousands of people, past and present, who made it all possible. What part of these great accomplishments has been contributed by the superstitious way of thinking? Absolutely nothing. The belief in fairy-tale magichas blocked attempts to explain how and why things happen. Today it is a lazy person's excuse to avoid thinking about why things happen."

This is a gem of a book for anyone even remotely interested in American UFOlogy. It gives a nice cross-section, from the more sinister cult-type movements to earnest characters with their own home made mini-SETIs. Its a coffee-table book and the text, whilst complementing the photos, also serves as something of an introduction for the uninitiated. Glad I got this, will treasure it!

Curran's "In Advance of the Landing..." is a singular book that explores the mythological basis of the UFO phenomenon. Less concerned with the 'proof' of whether or not UFOs exist, Curran sets out to show that the impact of the belief in flying saucers and extraterrestrials (all of them much more clever and wise than mere earthlings) is pervasive and sits entirely within the continuum of Judea-Christianity beliefs.
A revised mythology for a new technological age is beautifully rendered through Curran's photographs and words.

IN ADVANCE OF THE LANDING is a sensitively written and photographed testimony of how far we will go to have something--anything--to hope for. I find myself looking again and again at the pictures and stories of people who labor in workshops or in empty fields building rockets and flying saucers, people who await the landing of extraterrestrials they KNOW are coming soon. This subject is as worthy of serious study as any religion, and you don't have to look hard to see how closely these people's expectations parallel second comings, raptures, and apocalyptic salvation scenarios of better-known religions. As ludicrous as some of the believers are (Ariel, the "queen" of the Unarian religon who dresses like a fairy godmother, a tiara atop her bubble hairdo) I came away with renewed fascination for and frustration at our capacity to believe. An excellent artifact of our times.

I've read virtually every UFO book that's come out over the past 40+ years, and this remains one of my all-time favorites. I have the original softbound edition, which has become a cult classic and now goes for something like $100. This is more of a sociological document than a UFO book. It perfectly captures the entire spectrum of quirky characters involved in the UFO field, and the photographs are an absolute hoot. I return to this book time and again just for a laugh and to remind myself that there are nuttier people in the UFO field than me. There's nothing condescending about the authors' treatment of their subjects, however. They obviously have a genuine fondness for them -- and you will, too. This is a "must have" for anyone with an interest in UFOs.

This is an excellent book which combines good journalism with excellent photography. Once you pick it up its hard to put it down. The book is facinating but at the same time alarming because the people in it are real. Mr. Curran gives an excellent and frank portrayal of the people who hold to the reality of UFO's and their occupants. He presents them, without any judgement, in an accurate a manner as possible. You can clearly see the bankrupcy of their beliefs. It is a sad but truthful commentary of the manner in which a human being can choose to waste his life.

I absolutely loved this book. It is wonderful to read stories about strong and diverse women. I am giving it out as holiday presents to everyone this year. I reccomend this book to everyone!

My men's book club chose this book as its nonfiction selection of the month. 7 of 8 men felt that the book added to their appreciation of women's issues. The presentation--folktales paired with short essays on strong contemporary women--gave insights we felt to be valuable.

What a great idea! In Full Bloom pairs folktales from all over the world with vignettes about real women--real, mature women. Each folktale/vignette exemplifies a certain trait or common experience of mature women, such as "Protecting Our Daughters" (Demeter and Persephone/Elizabeth Morgan) and "Breaking Free of Convention" (Lilith/Mae West).

Additionally, the book is broken up into two sections, Roses and Not Roses. The Roses are the traditional women, or women acting in traditional roles, while the Not Roses are untraditional women. Creeden doesn't denigrate or glorify either--she celebrates them equally and shows the reader the best sides of those roles.

Finally, Creeden includes a comprehensive collection of notes, which I particularly liked. I'm interested in folklore, so the notes gave me a good starting place for more research.

I have no problem recommending this book to everyone. Just because it's about mature women doesn't mean only they will appreciate it!

What a delightful book! I laughed and cried. Ms. Creeden has been able to connect folktale and legend to lives of real people. Her choices are so varied we are treated to ancient tales as well as urban stories -- Women who are "Roses" and "Not Roses", well known and unknown. In doing so, she captures the essence of women's struggles and joys with both insight and wit! A good read and great examples for our own journeys!

I absolutely loved this book. It is wonderful to read stories about strong and diverse women. I am giving it out as holiday presents to everyone this year. I reccomend this book to everyone!

Joie Davidow's telling of Aztec history is mesmerizing. When she draws her conclusion that had the Aztecs survived, their herbal medicines would rival those of the Chinese, I was totally convinced. Finding this book while looking for books on herbal tea was a stroke of luck. And, while the Mexicans may have as many herbs in their medicine chests as the Chinese, this book concentrates on about 200 or so of the most commonly found and used. I have always felt that we should make use of the herbs that grow around us instead of trying to grow those from another region. So I was excited to find a book about southwestern herbs. What I didn't expect was how many plants were included that were NOT from the Mexican area or even the southwest. It shows that her research is up to date on what herbs are being used by the Mexicans for medicinal purposes today. Particularly useful is the extensive lists of names given for each plant. Common names vary so much from region to region that it can be difficult to locate the correct herb for the healing tea recipe. Not only are we given several Mexican names for the plants but also the Nahuatl or Aztec name. Almost every imaginable ailment is listed and which single or combined herbs should be used. Easy to use and handy to have this book is also fascinating just to read.

As I am studying to become an herbalist, this is a very educational book. I like the idea that the author gives you the name of the herb in spanish, english, nahuatl, and mayan. I definately recommend this book to people with an open mind and who love to heal naturally.

I bought this book unseen and I am so happy to have done so. This book is a virtual treasure trove of practical herbalism and folk healing. There are many herbs listed with traditional uses, great tables of correspondance and my favorite part is a small section on some of the folk saints found in curanderismo. I am very glad to own this book and will treasure it for many years.

I have studied under a curandero, and this just adds more to my education. There are plenty of books out there about herbalism from around the world, and it is about time that CURANDERISMO gets recognition...thank you Joie!

For many years popular North American herbals were Eurocentric. It is enriching, valuable and timely that "Infusions of Healing: A Treasury of Mexican American Herbal Medicine" has been introduced to the public. As an herbalist I welcome the opportunity to broaden my understanding of the traditional uses, botanical names and history of herbs by Mexican Americans, Mexicans and indigenous Americans, among others. Davidow's book is comprehensive, thoughtful and engaging. The style of the illustrations make them the perfect companions to the text. I put "Infusion of Healing" at the top of the list of essential modern herbals for it's outstanding contribution to cross-cultural knowledge of herbal practices.

JPII was a man that knew what was going on. His mind pierces through much of the nowadays rubbish that soils our world. In the name of Faith and Reason, the late pope's work comes forth like lightning from heaven.

This is a new and expanded version of the original volume published by in 1892 under the title "Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry." It was subsequently re-titled, "Irish Fairy and Folk Tales," and has seen several editions from different publishers.
This edition, with an illuminating forward by Paul Muldoon, also has other additions that help the reader penetrate the sometimes dense and archaic language. If I had to choose between the original edition and this one, I would definitely choose this one. The main body of the book is identical to the original.
Both Yeats and Lady Gregory were especially concerned that the best of the tales from the Irish countryside be preserved before their main purveyors, the Shenaches (storytellers) vanished. Those collected here are a varied lot, and not all of them will appeal to every reader. That, however, does not affect their value at all, for here a way of life is preserved and we can look through a small window into the beliefs and habits of the Irish people in the days when the "Fairy Faith" was still common amongst them. It is probably best not to read the collection straight through, but rather peruse it, selecting from it that which most appeals.
Yeats's singular contribution is the dividing the denizens of the Irish Enchanted Countryside into categories: The Trooping Fairy, The Solitary Fairy, the Sociable Fairy, etc, together with Ghosts, Witches, Giants and the like. Within each "type" there are essays, songs, poems, hearsay, histories ... in short, something to appeal to every taste, as long as that taste has a goodly sampling of fancy about it.
These fairies are not the gossamer winged, luminous beings of Victorian paintings. These fairies are as likely to curse as to bless and it does not benefit the unwary or skeptical to offend them. Here are pookas, leprechauns, far darrig, Ban-Shees, and lanawn-shees.
These creatures were ever present to the Irish peasantry, and were forgotten with the industrialization of modern times. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of Yeats and others like him, much of this world was preserved for us.
Some of the stories and poems retain their Irish intonation and syntax and may be difficult for some to follow, but patience will be rewarded; One can almost "hear" the storyteller and the bard.
This is a volume well worth going back to again and again.

In this delightful volume, first published in 1892, William Butler Yeats has collected all manner of Irish folklore (mostly short stories, with a few poems) from a wide variety sources. He has divided the works into categories as follows: the "Trooping Fairies" (fairies, changelings, and the "merrow" or mermaids); the "Solitary Fairies" (the lepracaun, the pooka - an animal spirit, and the banshee); "Ghosts"; "Witches & Fairy Doctors"; "T'yeer-na-n-Oge" or "Tir-na-n-Og" (a legendary island said to appear and disappear); "Saints & Priests"; "The Devil"; "Giants"; and "Kings / Queens / Princesses / Earls / Robbers." Yeats introduces each section with background information on the creature the stories in that category will concern. He also includes numerous footnotes of interest, making this book a valuable resource for anyone seeking to learn about the tradition of Irish folklore.

While I have given this anthology a five-star rating based on it's value as a source of information on Irish mythology, it would probably be worth only four stars for entertainment value alone. Some of the stories are very short and/or don't have much of a point, and are less interesting. These tend to serve more as testimony to the nature of a particular mythical being rather than being an actual story with a plot and message for the reader. Nevertheless, the book as a whole offers a very comprehensive look at just what defines Irish folk culture. The stories that do have a point sometimes take the form of "how things came to be this way" tales, or provide a moral lesson, etc. Many of the stories are rather dark, as that tends to be the nature of lore from this region, but there are also some lighthearted and cheerful pieces.

Despite the book having been compiled more than one hundred years ago, most of the stories are quite easy to read. Yeats makes things even more simple for the reader by making footnotes where old Irish words or phrases are used, giving us their meaning. However, there are a few stories that have been left in a more archaic form, which is distracting and a bit harder to decipher. Take, for example, the following excerpt:

". . . the minit he puts his knife into the fish, there was a murtherin' screech, that you'd the life id lave you if you hurd it, and away jumps the throut out av the fryin'-pan into the middle o' the flure; and an the spot where it fell, up riz a lovely lady - the beautifullest crathur that eyes ever seen, dressed in white, and a band o' goold in her hair, and a sthrame o' blood runnin' down her arm" (pg. 46).

I should probably make note of the fact, for those whom it might interest, that although the title page says the book is "profusely illustrated," there are actually only a few pictures. I believe only six of the over seventy stories are illustrated, and these with simple (but nice), old-fashioned line drawings in black and white. However this is not really a criticism as I view it, since I like the book for its literary content and wouldn't really care if it had no pictures at all.

One of the things I enjoy most about literature is finding connections with other works I've read, and "Irish Fairy & Folk Tales" does not disappoint in this regard. Many of the pieces are derivations of other, more common fairy tales. For instance, "Smallhead and the King's Sons" (Ghosts / pg. 194) incorporates some elements from both "Cinderella" and "Hansel and Gretel," while "The Giant's Stairs" (Giants / pg. 355) has some similarities to the story of "Jack and the Beanstalk." There are more connections like this. On the whole I found this book to be very enjoyable, and also a valuable read from a literary / academic standpoint. I'd certainly recommend it to anyone interesting in the history of Irish culture, the study of fairy tales and folklore, or both.

This absolutely charming collection of stories truly represents the best of "fairy" tales in which the fairy folk feature prominantly as well as a number of other folk beasties. WB Yeats has managed to capture all of the humor, fright, and love involved in the fairy world and it is a joy to follow him around in a world he seems to know so well.

Yeats has long been one of my favorite poets; however, I did not expect his re-telling of Irish Fairy and Folk Tales to be up to his poetry standard. With that said, let me say he does an excellent job re-telling these old stories and if you have any interest whatsoever in fairy tales or Irish Mythology, read this book. "The Trooping Fairies" and "Witches, Fairy Doctors" were 2 of my favorite chapters but overall the whole book is a delight to read. It's an easy read, some stories are funny, some are scary, but most are just entertaining. Also there are some poems mixed in with the stories which add to the story-telling. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I enjoyed this book immensely, but probably for the wrong reasons. The book is a bit chewy in places, but stick with it, as it's surprisingly enjoyable on it's own merits. On a more selfish, sadistic note, I had been mecilessly bludgeoned on a regulary basis by a work colleague, a second generation descendant of the Emerald Isle, with tales of Celtic martyrdom and Anglo tyranny, and none of which I felt I had the right to dispute. Then I read the book. After ten minutes of lively debate, challenging all he knew as 'fact', he has not spoken to me since. No-one had ever shut him up before. Heaven. But back to the point, I found this to be a rather good read.

Baby Cromwell, Nottingham, England

R. F. "Roy" Foster author of 'W. B. Yeats: The Apprentice Mage,' 'Charles Stewart Parnell: The Man and His Family' and 'Modern Ireland,' has written this experience and interpetation into Irish history and literature. He does a fine job of it. His bravery in massacring every sacred Irish cow as one would have fun reading it. It leaves you with a warm, passionate, giggly feeling. It's entertainingly brilliant look at the past and present Ireland. I particularly love the chapters and passages on Theme-parks & Histories (with some warning from Foster on expliotation); the chapters on Yeats; When the Newspapers Have Forgotten Me: Yeats, Obituarists and Irishness; Selling Irish Childhoods: Frank McCourt & Gerry Adams; and, Remembering 1798. They're totally smothered in clichés and lots of traditional tidbits of fond or fatal memories, known to some as the Irish experience.

Foster cleverly works moments of Ireland's past into narratives of Irish culture on myth, folklore, ghost stories and romance. The result is from a varied interpetation of opinionated and right down funny interlinking essays. In Theme-parks and Histories-Foster writes of the Irish are to remember or commemorate anything. It is worth remembering the upward curve of Irish cultural achievement-referring to W. B. Yeats, Hugh Leonard, Ezra Pound, Cashel Heritage Society and the 2,000-acre Famine Theme Park in Knockfierna Hill west of Limerick. Irish history, the most distinctive achievement for it. His suggestion to form a monument to Amnesia and forget where they put it. As a historian he would be shocked, but as an Irishman he would be attracted to the idea. Foster shows no mercy on his view of manipulating Irish history on political places and Irish poverty and oppression as a commerically packaged heritage park. His exploration of Yeats' authority of the Irish story's fitting moments as the voice of his Ireland countrymen.

Foster leaves teeth-marked criticism of Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes) and Gerry Adams and their devil may care attittude of taking hostages for fortune. Transcending into the bestsellerdom of Irish childhoods. Simply a technique of marketing where Irish version brag and whimper about the woes of their early years' experience. I find this to be an entertaining reading. In some places a bit wordy, but good telling of Irish culture. You may hate or love it. But, if your interest is in Irish history and literature it's quite essential.

Irish people of all persuasions and in all walks of life have developed a talent for building up a national history to their liking and drawing conclusions from it. Roy Foster's essays are about some of the ways in which Ireland's history has been interpreted, embroidered, exploited and packaged. I think everyone will agree there are cogent reasons for preserving the distinction between history and "national fiction". Ultimately, poor history makes poor propaganda, and propaganda in any case is a shabby use to put something as precious as a nation's history. This book is essential reading for people with an interest in Ireland. (I also recommend strongly the same author's earlier "Modern Ireland 1600-1972".)

This book ought to be on the shelf of anyone with an interest in Irish history. Foster has done an excellent job at making his points about the various 'uses' that history in Ireland has been employed for. From downright propaganda to 'memoirs' masquerading as vague truths he unleashes the power of clear thinking and valid sources. For so long Irish history has been treated as 'story' and this book attempts and succeeds in telling the difference. It is so refreshing to see something sensible in print! It is a great source book or reference and could also be read by delving into the different subjects in the index. I would recommend this for all who are involved in getting to know the real history of Ireland and the Irish and how some Irish 'history' came to be written in the first place.

Porter's tongue-in-cheek treatment of the marketing of Ireland is refreshing after an avalanche of Irish hype came from unscrupulous little publishers.The Disneynification of Ireland ,apparently propelled by American ad agencies for the Irish Tourist Board,is treated by Porter correctly as hype to snare innocent Irish-Americans.Porter gets almost every hilarious Irish twist of recent decades in this collection of exposes, including the hilarious, almost unbelievable marketing of the potato famine in Disney-like theme parks.Unfortunately, he closed his collection of revionist chapters without pointing to the biggest Irish hype of all -the invention and collapse of " The Celtic Tiger", based on runaway inflation and a Dublin stock market bubble that aped the rise and fall of America's Nasdaq.Foster's book is a must if you wish a clearer view of the Irish .