Mythical and Fabulous Creatures: A Source Book and Research Guide

by Malcolm South

Overview

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. . . . [There] 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 creatures is not vitiated by scholarly taxidermy. Library Jourbanal

[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. Choice

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313243387
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/12/1987
Pages:	422
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

MALCOLM SOUTH is Professor of English at East Carolina University.

Table of Contents

Contributors
Preface
Introduction
A Glossary of Some of the More Important Fabulous Creatures
Illustrations of Fabulous Creatures
Twenty Fabulous Creatures
Birds and Beasts
The Unicorn by Malcolm South
The Dragon by Jonathan D. Evans
The Phoenix by Douglas J. McMillan
The Roc by Douglas J. McMillan
The Griffin by Waltraud Bartscht
The Chimera by David Adams Leeming
The Basilisk by Lawrence A. Breiner
Human-Animal Composites
The Manticora by David R. Cheney
Mermaids by Ruth Berman
Sirens by Ruth Berman
Harpies by Beryl Rowland
The Gorgon Medusa by Judith D. Suther
The Sphinx by Frank A. Scafella
The Minotaur by Michael J. Curley
The Satyr by Paul Grootkerk
The Centaur by Judith K. Kollmann
Creatures of Darkness
The Vampire by James Craig Holte
The Werewolf by Michael Cheilik
Giants and Fairies
Giants by Janis L. Pallister
Fairies by John Marshall Carter
Miscellany and Taxonomy
A Miscellany
A Taxonomy
A Bibliography of Works Useful for the Study of Fabulous Creatures
Index

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

Library Journal