Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth by Carol Rose  (13)
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Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
This serious, scholarly treatment of 20 imaginary beings, from dragon and phoenix to giants and fairies, discusses the origin of each as an idea, its symbolism and lore, and its appearances in art, literature, or film. Extensive bibliographies follow the generally ambitious and erudite essays, while a final catch-all article and selective bibliography cover still more ground, at a gallop. Although much of the book is concentrated and heavy goinguseful, as the subtitle suggests, mainly for referencethere are a number of thoughtful and well-written interpretive investigations into the nature and history of some persistent types. Entries on the Basilisk, Harpies, Medusa, and the Sphinx are particularly fine: here one feels that the mystery and power of these imaginative creations is not vitiated by scholarly taxidermy. Patricia Dooley, formerly with English Dept., Drexel Univ., Philadelphia
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Choice
"Essays by 18 contributors about 20 imaginary creatures provide information on their probable origins, symbolism, legends, and appearances in history, literature, and art. All the creatures, including those mentioned in a catchall essay for lesser-known beings, are accessible through a meticulous index, which also includes literary references in the text. Excellent bibliographies follow each essay, and a glossary and a taxonomy of creatures are appended. Most of the material is drawn from Indo-European sources, with occasional references to the Far East, North America, and Africa. `Literature' begins with the most ancient texts and continues to current fantasy novels, while `art' includes painting, sculpture, jewelry, movies, and T.V. This makes for wonderfully serendipitous bibliographies ... [this] book provides thorough documentation of the best-known creatures of fantasy with a breadth of coverage that is both impressive and delightful. Recommended for all libraries supporting research in mythology, fantasy, folklore, or popular culture."
See all Editorial Reviews
This serious, scholarly treatment of 20 imaginary beings, from dragon and phoenix to giants and fairies, discusses the origin of each as an idea, its symbolism and lore, and its appearances in art, literature, or film. Extensive bibliographies follow the generally ambitious and erudite essays, while a final catch-all article and selective bibliography cover still more ground, at a gallop. Although much of the book is concentrated and heavy goinguseful, as the subtitle suggests, mainly for referencethere are a number of thoughtful and well-written interpretive investigations into the nature and history of some persistent types. Entries on the Basilisk, Harpies, Medusa, and the Sphinx are particularly fine: here one feels that the mystery and power of these imaginative creations is not vitiated by scholarly taxidermy. Patricia Dooley, formerly with English Dept., Drexel Univ., Philadelphia
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Choice
"Essays by 18 contributors about 20 imaginary creatures provide information on their probable origins, symbolism, legends, and appearances in history, literature, and art. All the creatures, including those mentioned in a catchall essay for lesser-known beings, are accessible through a meticulous index, which also includes literary references in the text. Excellent bibliographies follow each essay, and a glossary and a taxonomy of creatures are appended. Most of the material is drawn from Indo-European sources, with occasional references to the Far East, North America, and Africa. `Literature' begins with the most ancient texts and continues to current fantasy novels, while `art' includes painting, sculpture, jewelry, movies, and T.V. This makes for wonderfully serendipitous bibliographies ... [this] book provides thorough documentation of the best-known creatures of fantasy with a breadth of coverage that is both impressive and delightful. Recommended for all libraries supporting research in mythology, fantasy, folklore, or popular culture."
See all Editorial Reviews
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12
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- The Magical Worlds of Lord of the Rings: The Amazing Myths, Legends and Facts Behind the Masterpiece by David Colbert in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- Monsters: An Investigator's Guide to Magical Beings by John Michael Greer in Back Matter
- J.R.R. Tolkien and His Literary Resonances: Views of Middle-earth (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction and Fantasy) by George Clark on page 37
- Wonder Beasts: Tales and Lore of the Phoenix, the Griffin, the Unicorn, and the Dragon by Joe Nigg in Back Matter
- Medusa: Solving the Mystery of the Gorgon by Stephen R. Wilk in Back Matter
See all 12 books citing this book