SEE SHORT BLURB FOR ALTERNATE COPY... A complex, intriguing, and important verbal entity, the proverb has been the subject of a vast number of opinions, studies, and analyses. To accommodate the assorted possible audiences, this volume outlines seven views of the proverb -- personal, formal, religious, literary, practical, cultural, and cognitive. Because the author's goal is to provide a scientific understanding of proverb comprehension and production, he draws largely on scholarship stemming from the formal, cultural, and cognitive views.
The only book about proverbs that is written from the standpoint of cognitive science, cognitive psychology, and experimentalism, this text provides a larger, more interdisciplinary perspective on the proverb. It also gives a theoretically more integrated approach to proverb cognition. The conceptual base theory of proverb comprehension is extended via the "cognitive ideals hypothesis" so that the theory now addresses issues regarding the creation, production, and pragmatics of proverbs. This hypothesis also has strong implications for a taxonomy of proverbs, proverb comprehension, universal vs. culture-specific aspects of proverbs, and some structural aspects of proverbs.
In general, the book extends the challenge of proverb cognition by using much of what cognitive science has to offer. In so doing, the proverb is compared to other forms of figurative language, which is then discussed within the larger rubric of intelligence and the inclination for using indirect modes of communication. Child developmental and brain substrates are also discussed.

This stimulating anthology, prepared by the great folklorist, B.A. Botkin, is comprised of the traditional songs, stories, customs, and beliefs which have been handed down, by word of mouth, for so long that they seem to have a life of their own. For Botkin, they are at the core of peoplehood.

When one thinks of American folklore one thinks not only of the folklore of American life, the traditions that have sprung up on American soil, but also of the literature of folklore, the migratory traditions that have found a home in the New World. Here are the pioneer heroes, legendary and real: the boasters, liars, bad men, good people, and strong people. There are anecdotes, tall tales, cross talk, and jests, full of vigorous good humor. There is a selection of the classic ballads of sailors, miners, cowboys, lumberjacks, and hoboes. Relations between men and women, slave songs of the black people, work songs connected with union struggles, are all herein covered. In The American People, the people speak and are allowed to tell their own story in their own way.

The volume is graced by a personal memoir by Louis Filler. The reader learns the background that made Botkin an integral voice in the reconstruction of American folklore. Here, one can read the actual tales of Davy Crockett, Buffalo Bill, Casey Jones, Johnny Appleseed, The Arkansas Traveler, Paul Bunyan, and countless other figures from the past- real and mythic.

Part of a series that offers mainly linguistic and anthropological research and teaching/learning material on a region of great cultural and strategic interest and importance in the post-Soviet era.

'Spooky and absorbing. I was gripped from the first page!' CASS GREEN There's a stranger in your house... When her stepmother dies unexpectedly, Caro returns to her childhood home in Derbyshire. She hadn't seen Elizabeth in years, but the remote farmhouse offers refuge from a bad relationship, and a chance to start again. But going through Elizabeth's belongings unearths memories Caro would rather stay buried. In particular, the story her stepmother would tell her, about two little girls and the terrible thing they do. As heavy snow traps Caro in the village, where her neighbours stare and whisper, Caro is forced to question why Elizabeth hated her so much, and what she was hiding. But does she really want to uncover the truth? A haunting and twisty story about the lies we tell those closest to us, perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Cass Green. If you love CUCKOO, don't miss Sophie Draper's brand-new mystery MAGPIE, available to order now! Readers love CUCKOO: 'A remarkably, taut and chilling debut. I absolutely loved it. Brilliant writing. All the creepiness. A heart-stopping ending' CLAIRE ALLAN 'Sophie Draper is a remarkable new voice, combining beautiful writing with a gothic creepiness and a level of suspense which will keep the reader gripped to the end' STEPHEN BOOTH 'A brilliant, sinister debut that creeps under your skin and keeps you hooked until the shocking ending' ROZ WATKINS 'Wow! This is what a horror story is supposed to be! Super spooky and absolutely wonderful in all its gothic glory' NETGALLEY REVIEWER 'The ending was amazing. Psychological fiction at its best. Five Stars' NETGALLEY REVIEWER 'I never use the term "jaw-dropping" but it best describes the rest of this spectacular read!' NETGALLEY REVIEWER 'The ending BLEW. ME. AWAY. I feel like I'm going to have a book hangover now. SO, SO GOOD' NETGALLEY REVIEWER

An encyclopedic A-to-Z guide, this beautifully illustrated volume offers hundreds of rich, fascinating definitions of 700 major and minor characters, creatures, and places of classical mythology. Classical Mythology A-to-Z is a comprehensive and engrossing guide to Greek and Roman mythology. Written by Annette Giesecke, PhD, Professor of Classics and Chair of Ancient Greek and Roman Studies at the University of Delaware, this brilliant reference offers clear explanations of every character and locale, and captures the essence of these timeless tales. From the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus and the heroes of the Trojan War to the nymphs, monsters, and other mythical creatures that populate these ancient stories, Giesecke recounts, with clarity and energy, the details of more than 700 characters and places. Each definition includes cross-references to related characters, locations, and myths, as well their equivalent in Roman mythology and cult. In addition to being an important standalone work, Classical Mythology A-to-Z is also written, designed, and illustrated to serve as an essential companion to the bestselling illustrated 75th-anniversary edition of Mythology by Edith Hamilton, including 10 full-color plates and 2-color illustrations throughout by artist Jim Tierney.

Examining the origins of the Arthurian legend and major trends in the portrayal of Arthur from the Middle Ages to the present, this collection focuses on discussion of literature written in English, French, Latin, and German. Its 16 essays, four published here for the first time, deal with such matters as the search for the historical Arthur; the depiction of Arthur in the romances "Erec" and "Iwein" of Hartmann von Aue; the way Arthur is depicted in 19th-century art and the Victorian view of manhood; and conceptions of King Arthur in 20th-century literature. Six of the essays, originally published in French and German, are translated into English especially for this book. Two essays have been substantially revised. An introduction offers a general discussion of the development of the legends in the countries of Europe.
Works discussed include medieval and Renaissance chronicles (Geoffrey of Monmouth's "Historia Regum Britanniae," Wace's "Roman de Brut," Polydore Vergil's Anglica Historia, Scottish vernacular and Latin chronicles), medieval romances (the "Lancelot en prose," the "Mort Artu," the Post-Vulgate "Roman du" "Graal," and works of Chretien de Troyes, Hartmann von Aue, and Sir Thomas Malory), Spenser's "Faerie Queene," Tennyson's "Idylls of the King," and T.H. White's "Once and Future King." A bibliography lists selected major secondary studies of King Arthur as well as major reference works.

'A twisting gothic tale of darkness, intrigue, heartbreak and revenge' Jennifer Saint, author of ARIADNE ''This story of bewitchment and revenge weaves a spell over you, and won't quite let go' Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of PANDORA 'Stunning. Perfect for lovers of folklore and gothic fiction' Elizabeth Lee, author of CUNNING WOMEN 'This book will haunt and bewitch you' AJ Gnuse, author of GIRL IN THE WALLS 'Read this book. Pre-order it, read it, scream about it. It's gripped me and it won't let me go' 5* Reader Review When Chloe turns the key to Small Angels, the church nestled at the edge of Mockbeggar Woods where she is to be married, she is braced for cobwebs and dust. What she doesn't expect are the villagers' concerned faces, her fiance's remoteness, or the nagging voice in her head that whispers to her of fears she didn't even know she had. Something in the woods is beginning to stir, to creep closer to the sleeping houses. Something that should have been banished long ago.

Through a mixture of original stories and traditional tales, Adventures in Nature offers an abundance of ways for families to connect with the earth. As our ancestors did before us, the book follows the seasons contained in the 'Wheel Of The Year', with each entry focusing on a story that brings us closer to the natural world, accompanied by simple craft projects, activities and mindful moments. In our busy, modern lives we have become increasingly disconnected from the world around us, and stories are an age-old way of re-establishing that link, nurturing a love for the environment and embedding awareness and respect for the planet within our culture. This book allows you to discover your very own adventures in nature through story.

The familiar stories of the book of Genesis affirm that God made the universe, planet earth, and you and me. However, various anomalies in the text clue us that we are not reading the original version of these stories. So what were the original narratives and what did they say about who we are and where we all came from? What was the earlier story of human origins, almost obliterated from the Hebrew Scriptures in the 6th century BC, and suppressed from Christian writing in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD? And what does any of this have to do with Extra Terrestrials? Escaping from Eden will take you on a journey around the world and into the mythologies of ancient Sumeria, Mesoamerica, India, Africa, and Greece to reveal a profound secret, hidden in plain sight in the text of the Bible. Far reaching and deeply controversial, this book points to truths about ourselves, the universe and everything that you may have long suspected but not dared to speak!

"Destroy a nation, but its mountains and rivers remain."--"Japanese proverb"
This is a collection of 200 Japanese proverbs with illustrations and explanations for each saying.
Go beyond speaking Japanese-peek into the soul of Japan. "Japanese Proverbs: Wit and Wisdom" is a delightfully illustrated compilation of traditional Japanese proverbs and sayings. Some of the classic Japanese quotes and quotations, like "Fall down seven times, get up eight," capture the dogged perseverance of the Japanese heart. Others, such as "A red lacquer dish needs no decoration" illuminate both a universal truth and Japan's unique, aesthetic traditions. "Japanese Proverbs: Wit and Wisdom" has proverbs of great cultural significance as well as proverbs on matters of daily life and customs.
Pleasing to expert and new-comer alike, the 200 traditional proverbs in this unique collection are presented in Japanese script ("kana and kanji") and romanized ("romaji") form, along with direct English translations. Similar proverbs are given from English, and the "sumi-e" style ink drawings are a delight in their own right.
You'll speak Japanese with the verve and nuance of a native when you use these apt and witty expressions.

Fragments of ancient belief have been incorporated into folklore and Christian dogma with the result that its original tenets have merged with the myths and psychologies of the intervening years. Hilda Ellis Davidson sifts through centuries of cultural and religious influences to locate evidence of these "lost" pagan beliefs.
Davidson illustrates how northern pagan religions have been represented and misinterpreted by the Christian tradition and throws light on the nature of such beliefs and how they have been preserved. "The Lost Beliefs of" "Northern Europe" stresses both the possibilities and the difficulties of investigating pre-Christian faiths and emphasizes the need to separate speculation from scientific proof.
This book will be a useful tool for students with a serious interest in archaeology as it illustrates with examples how objectivity is not necessarily the driving force in forming our supposedly scientific view of the past. It will also appeal to the general reader who wants to understand the true nature of Northern European pagan belief as opposed to the oversimplified view popularized by the media.
"The Lost Beliefs of Northern Europe" argues for intellectual rigorousness rather than romanticization of the past, and challenges the reader to rethink accepted interpretations.

Hidden in the margins of history books, classical literature, and thousands of years of stories, myths and legends, through to contemporary literature, TV and film, there is a diverse and other-worldly super community of queer heroes to discover, learn from, and celebrate. Be captivated by stories of forbidden love like Patroclus & Achilles (explored in Madeleine Miller's bestseller Song of Achilles), join the cult of Antinous (inspiration for Oscar Wilde), get down with pansexual god Set in Egyptian myth, and fall for Zimbabwe's trans God Mawi. And from modern pop-culture, through Dan Jones's witty, upbeat style, learn more about 90s fan obsessions Xena: Warrior Princess and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Neil Gaiman's American Gods and the BBC's Doctor Who. Queer Heroes of Myth & Legend brings to life characters who are romantic, brave, mysterious, and always fantastical. It is a magnificent celebration of queerness through the ages in all its legendary glory.

Explore the fascinating and often inexplicable tales of strange ghostly events in this western state. From coastal Cannon Beach and Newport to Salem, Bend and La Grande and many places in between, these stories of fright-filled folklore are sure to delight.

In the name of the Father, not a word of this. Her letters are forbidden. Beatrice is the convent's librarian. For years, she has shunned the company of her sisters, finding solace only with her manuscripts. Then, one carnival night, two women, bleeding and stricken, are abandoned outside the convent's walls. Moments from death, one of them presses something into Beatrice's hands: a bewitching book whose pages have a dangerous life of their own. But men of the faith want the book destroyed, and a zealous preacher has tracked it to her door. Her sisters' lives - or her obsession. Beatrice must decide. The book's voice is growing stronger. An ancient power uncoils. Will she dare to listen?

Gorgeous Collector's Edition. India, one of the great, ancient civilizations, spawned a fascinating canon of myths and legends. With multiple gods, and a riot of colour and character, this fantastic new book, Indian Myths & Legends, explores the themes and landscapes that created the tales, and reveals the boundless energy that brought us the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, retelling the stories of Krishna, Buddha and Shiva, and some of the many different versions of creation. Flame Tree Collector's Editions present the foundations of speculative fiction, authors, myths and tales without which the imaginative literature of the twentieth century would not exist, bringing the best, most influential and most fascinating works into a striking and collectable library. Each book features a new introduction and a Glossary of Terms.

What buried secret lies beneath the stones of one of England's greatest former churches and shrines, the Benedictine Abbey of Bury St Edmunds? The search for the final resting place of King Edmund has led to this site, beneath which Francis Young argues the lost king's remains are waiting to be found. Edmund: In Search of England's Lost King explores the history of the martyred monarch of East Anglia and England's first patron saint, showing how he became a pivotal figure around whom Saxons, Danes and Normans all rallied. Young also examines Edmund's legacy in the centuries since his death at the hands of marauding Vikings in the 9th century. In doing so, this fascinating book points to the imminent rediscovery of the ruler who created England.

Combining the concepts and methods of classical ethology with those of social-cultural anthropology, "Navajo Infancy" describes the major sources of change and continuity in Navajo infant development as a vehicle for discussing the relationships between human nature and culture. The theoretical framework includes adaptation and natural selection as key background variables, but in the important context of recent advances in evolutionary biology, which argue for a high degree of developmental plasticity in human ontogeny and the unique adaptive value of human epigenetics and socialization.

The Mysticism and Magic of Tarot Cards and the Passion of Italian Illustration in One Enchanted Deck#1 New Release in Mysticism Tarot cards, witchcraft, and magical folklore. There is an invisible population living in our midst-enchanted "little people" including elves, fairies, and other magical creatures. They exist all over the world, and while they may be called by a variety of names, their mystical qualities are the same. Rider-Waite tarot deck quality. This exquisitely illustrated set of 78 tarot cards made in the Rider-Waite-Smith standard reveals the magical stories of these mystical creatures to help us better understand both them and ourselves. Illustrated by Otto Gabos, a celebrated Italian comic artist and illustrator, Faeries and Enchanted Creatures is a unique gift for collectors and tarot card enthusiasts. Tarot card magic from a scholar. The guidebook that accompanies the tarot cards describes the peculiarities of the magical creatures in the card deck in detail. It is authored by Francesca Matteoni, a scholar with expertise in the history of religion, anthropology of magic and witchcraft, and mysticism and magic in the Renaissance. She teaches at American universities in Florence, Italy and holds workshops on tarot cards, fables, and poetry. In this 78 tarot card deck and guidebook, find: Creatures related to well-known traditions, such as the Leprechaun-Magician or the Anguana-High Priestess in the twenty-two cards of the Major Arcana Tarot card expertise and Italian craftsmanship An ideal companion for self-exploration and insight If you are new to tarot card magic or a fan of The Rider Tarot Deck, Light Seer's Tarot, or The Modern Witch Tarot Deck, Faeries and Enchanted Creatures: Tarot Card Magic and Mysticism (78 Tarot Cards and Guidebook) is for you.

*An Oprah Magazine Most Anticipated Book of 2021* *A Woman & Home Top Four Literary Read* *A lovereading.co.uk Star Book* And they lived happily ever after . . . didn't they? Cinderella married the man of her dreams - the perfect ending she deserved after diligently following all the fairy-tale rules. Yet now, two children and thirteen-and-a-half years later, things have gone badly wrong. One night, she sneaks out of the palace to get help from the Witch who, for a price, offers love potions to disgruntled housewives. But as the old hag flings the last ingredients into the cauldron, Cinderella doesn't ask for a love spell to win back her Prince Charming. Instead, she wants him dead. Endlessly surprising and wildly inventive, The Charmed Wife is a sophisticated literary fairy tale for the twenty-first century that weaves together time and place, fantasy and reality, to conjure a world unlike any other. Nothing in it is quite what it seems, and the twists and turns of its magical, dark, swiftly shifting paths take us deep into the heart of romance, marriage and the very nature of storytelling. 'Dark and dreamy. Inside the plot, magic comes and goes. But inside the reader, it's all magic - all of us happily caught in Grushin's hypnotic spell.' - Karen Joy Fowler, author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves and The Jane Austen Book Club 'Fall under its charms, I dare you' - Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked A powerful, provocative and quite wonderful modern literary fairy tale. I danced through the deep dark magic of The Charmed Wife - long live the fairy tale that lives beyond "happily ever after".' - lovereading.co.uk 'Surprising, darkly comedic and enchanting' - CNN 'Genre-bending and darkly comic, Grushin's fourth novel is a weird and wonderful triumph.' - Oprah Magazine

The perfect bed-time story for all those who hate the dark. Zhazha the porcupine and Duoduo the bear cub live in the DARK MUSHROOM FOREST. They are scared of the night. Awu the elephant arrives in the forest. Awu loves to eat darkness.He sucks it right up his trunk. 'It's yummier than bananas, crunchier than bamboo,' says Awu.'And it's got my name on it.' But when there's no darkness left lurking anywhere, everyone starts to yawn. Even the tigers lose their roars and the Dark Mushroom Forest becomes an annoying, yawning place. -A gorgeous picture book. The story and illustrations perfectly match and are quirky and charming. Feels like a classic! This book has SOUL! Sophie Anderson, The House with Chicken Legs -"This is a lovely bedtime story, full of beautiful images and reassuring thoughts, to send children happily off to sleep." - Parents in Touch

An entrancing new telling of ancient Greek myths "This book is a triumph! . . . [A] magnificent retelling of the Greek myths."-Alexander McCall Smith, author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series "Move over, Edith Hamilton! Sarah Iles Johnston has hit the magical refresh button on Greek myths."-Maria Tatar, author of The Heroine with 1001 Faces Gripping tales that abound with fantastic characters and astonishing twists and turns, Greek myths confront what it means to be mortal in a world of powerful forces beyond human control. Little wonder that they continue to fascinate readers thousands of years after they were first told. Gods and Mortals is a major new telling of ancient Greek myths by one of the world's preeminent experts. In a fresh, vibrant, and compelling style that draws readers into the lives of the characters, Sarah Iles Johnston offers new narrations of all the best-known tales as well as others that are seldom told, taking readers on an enthralling journey from the origin of the cosmos to the aftermath of the Trojan War. Some of the mortals in these stories are cursed by the gods, while luckier ones are blessed with resourcefulness and resilience. Gods transform themselves into animals, humans, and shimmering gold to visit the earth in disguise-where they sometimes transform offending mortals into new forms, too: a wolf, a spider, a craggy rock. Other mortals-both women and men-use their wits and strength to conquer the monsters created by the gods-gorgons, dragons, harpies, fire-breathing bulls. Featuring captivating original illustrations by Tristan Johnston, Gods and Mortals highlights the rich connections between the different characters and stories, draws attention to the often-overlooked perspectives of female characters, and stays true both to the tales and to the world in which ancient people lived. The result is an engaging and entertaining new take on the Greek myths.