Wise Women of the Dreamtime: Aboriginal Tales of the Ancestral Powers (Paperback)

~ K. Langloh Parker (Author), Johanna Lambert (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Australian writer Lambert has done a masterful job of editing the traditional Aboriginal myths and stories collected by Katie Langloh Parker (1856-1940). Parker, whose life was saved by an Aboriginal girl as a child, spent most of her life on an outback ranch and befriended several Aboriginal women. From them she gathered tales that she translated into English and later published. Parker was meticulous in her effort to convey the true essence and meaning of each story. The 14 stories Lambert has chosen from Parker's collection concern ancestral powers, animal powers, magic, and healing. They provide an interesting perspective on major life themes as perceived by traditional Aboriginal women. Lambert has included her own insightful commentaries for each myth. This well-written anthology should be of value to academic libraries with collections on Australian Aboriginal culture, women's studies, and world mythology.
- Elizabeth Salt, Otterbein Coll. Lib., Westerville, Ohio
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"This well-written anthology provides an interesting perspective on major life themes . . . as perceived by traditional Aboriginal women."
(Library Journal )

"Parker's prose, although a century old, communicates well to today's reader. Although Parker herself wrote that the sophisticated, dynamic textures of actual storytelling performances were untranslatable, her use of Aboriginal names and lexicon helps create an affinity with the original stores.

"Lambert's uniformly thoughtful commentaries present select aspects of the Aboriginal worldview and culture, intertwined with ethnographic detail. Lambert also frequently relates Aboriginal themes to issues relevant to contemporary life, often those of immediate concern to women.

"Wise Women of the Dreamtime is a well presented book:The text, supporting material, artwork (the reproductions of Dorothy Djuukulul's bark paintings are marvelous), and even the printing and paper stock all work together to create a powerful and compelling volume."
(Shaman's Drum   )

"Australian writer Lambert has done a masterful job of editing the traditional Aboriginal myths and stories collected by Katie Langloh Parker (1856-1940). Parker, whose life was saved by an Aboriginal girl as a child, spent most of her life on an outback ranch and befriended several Aboriginal women. From them she gathered tales that she translated into English and later published. Parker was meticulous in her effort to convey the true essence and meaning of each story. The 14 stories Lambert has chosen from Parker's collection concern ancestral powers, animal powers, magic, and healing. They provide an interesting perspective on major life themes as perceived by traditional Aboriginal women. Lambert has included her own insightful commentaries for each myth. This well-written anthology should be of value to academic libraries with collections on Australian Aboriginal culture, women's studies, and world mythology."
(Library Journal (Friday , October 01, 1993) Elizabeth Salt, Otterbein Coll. Lib., Westerville, Ohio )

"Truly universalist, these tales are an intriguing introduction into one of the first traceable world views, one revering the feminine."
(Gynocratic Visions )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions Internatonal; 1st edition (July 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892814772
• ISBN-13: 978-0892814770
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #66,841 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aboriginal Stories, August 2, 2003

By	Heidi M. Hawkins "heidimo" (Bellingham, WA: City of Subdued Excitement) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book with the hope of finding something more authentic than some of the more popular books on Australian Aboriginal culture I'd read. Though these stories have been collected, translated and compiled by Anglo Australians, my impression is that the authenticity of these stories has been retained. I do believe my authenticity-meter is pretty accurate. However, I have no authority on the subject, and would love to see a review here from someone who does. In absence of such, I hope my review is helpful to others.

Each story is followed by Johanna Lambert's commentary. Lambert draws parallels between concepts in these stories, and myths of other cultures. She also explains the contextual beliefs of Aboriginal people in a way that I found helpful and seems respectful to me. At times the psychoanalytical perspective seems a bit forced when applied to these stories and Aboriginal culture in general. I wonder if psychoanalysis is universal enough to be applicable to something so ancient and whole in and of itself. For the most part, though, I found the analysis helpful, and if you don't, you can just read the stories and skip the analysis which follows.

If your exposure to Aboriginal culture from the women's perspective is limited to Lynn Andrews or Marlo Morgan, I highly recommend you read this book. Also a great book for anthropologists and students of shamanism or global spirituality. Or, if you enjoyed "Rabbit-Proof Fence," if you just like to hear about different perspectives than your own or want to understand the various people of the world, this book is for you. Recommended.

~heidimo

3.0 out of 5 stars interesting reading, July 13, 2009

By	Kristen L. Hedene - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was interesting but not what I expected. Guess I was hoping for more personal accounts than retold mythology.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wise Women of the Dreamtime, February 5, 2009

By	K. Rollins (Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

A very good introduction to Australian Aboriginal stories - the book provides the traditional story and then explains its function as a tool for teaching young people.