World Mythology

by Roy Willis

Book Overview

The great myths of the world create meaning out of the fundamental events of human existence: birth, death, conflict, loss, reconciliation, the cycle of the seasons. They speak to us of life itself in voices still intelligible, yet compellingly strange and distant. World Mythology offers readers an authoritative and wide-ranging guide to these enduring mythological traditions, combining the pure narrative of the myths themselves with the background...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805027017
• ISBN13: 9780805027013
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 3.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 8.8" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

Deceptive description

This book was listed as in good condition. Is it is in at best, poor condition. I might say very poor condition as the binding is slightly torn abraded and the cover very old and shredded. Doesn't look like it's been a well kept. To say Good condition is at the very least, deceptive.

Wonderful Read

I purchased this for my son and he loved it. He likes Mythology so not only did he read it straight through, but it's a great referance book.

AN EGREGIOUS COMPHENDIUM!

The great myths of the world gather significance since the fundamentals events of the human life: birth, death, conflict, loss reconciliation, the cycle of the stations. They talk us about the own life in an understandable tune, but filled of a fascinating mystery. This text is an extensive compendium, well documented of the main mythological traditions, in which the interest of the narrations blend with the required information for its total comprehension. Roy Willis is investigator of Social Anthropology in Edinburgh's University, author of Man and beast(1975) about the animal symbolism in the beliefs of the African nations. Robert Walter, is Director of Joseph Campbell's Foundation, entity without profit purposes destined to preserve, protect and perpetuate the work of Joseph Campbell(1904-1987) one of the most eminent and zealous studious of our age. An essential reference text!

Mythology in a nutshell

With each chapter written by an expert, plus beautiful illustrations, this is a great anthology for those seeking a bird's eye view of the World's myths and legends. It is also fun to read and is not dense to the point that it cannot be read from cover to cover. I took off a star because there was nothing on Finnish mythology. Also, the mythology of Persia was just one page long, which I felt was too little.

I lusted for this book!

I was doing a paper on Greek Mythology and found this book in the Reference section of our library. There was so much great infomation in it that I had the librarian xerox half of it! The layout includes vivid pictures of ancient artifacts and art work on just about every page. The book also has sidebars and "boxes" of information that are helpful--kind of like the impulse buy section at the check-out! As the title says--it shares myths and religious practices from all over the world; each country is broken down into logical topics. I really enjoyed this book and had to own it! It's ideal for anyone taking a Humanities, Literature or Anthropology course! I know I will use it again in the future!