A collection of essays, stories and reminiscences, many of which were first published in the US magazine "Parabola". The essays are often reflections on the themes of myth and folklore: The Heroic Quest, The Black Sheep, The Foolish Young Son, drawing on a lifelong immersion in world mythology. Ranging from Hindu creation stories through Celtic legend and the "Dreamtime" of the Australian Aborigines to Central European tales of wicked fairies and miller's daughters, the author sets out her faith in the poetic truth of these fables. Interspersed are memories of her Australian childhood, of the friendships she formed as a young woman in Ireland with AE and Yeats and of her stay on an American Indian reservation where she was driven about by a surly cowboy.
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Insight and Inspiration,
By merrystar (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What the Bee Knows: Reflections on Myth, Symbol, and Story (Arkana) (Paperback)
P.L. Travers, while best known for "Mary Poppins", was also a scholar of myth. This slender volume contains a fair fraction of her work, mostly written for the magazine "Parabola" over the course of many years. Each essay studies a common theme or element of traditional stories. Travers has the ability to combine an absolutely astounding amount of information on myths and folktales from all over the world into insightful and fascinating text. Throughout weaves the story of her own life, told in snatches, reminding the reader again and again how story reflects aspects of our own lives. "Only Connect", the phrase borrowed from E.M. Forster by Travers, sums up the underlying purpose which motivates every essay. This book continually draws me back for the wisdom and inspiration it offers. I love it because it makes me stop and think.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book for finding your way back.,
By A Customer
This review is from: What the Bee Knows: Reflections on Myth, Symbol and Story (Paperback)
P.L. Travers is an inspiration. She knows what is in a story and she shares it with us in this marvelous book. Each new essay or story reveals a wealth and insight that changes the colour of your world view. It is a book to set you back on your path and a book that can be dipped in and out of, read and re-read always giving something for you to take away. P.L. Travers does for grown ups in this book what Mary Poppins did for everyone.
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