Indian Fairy Tales

Soils and national characters differ; but fairy tales are the same in plot and incidents, if not in treatment. The majority of the tales in this volume have been known in the West in some form or other, and the problem arises how to account for their simultaneous existence in farthest West and East. Some - as Benfey in Germany, M. Cosquin in France, and Mr. Clouston in England - have declared that India is the Home of the Fairy Tale, and that all European fairy tales have been brought...

Beowulf

Beowulf is the earliest surviving poem in Old English. Although the authorship is anonymous it is believed to have been written before the 10th century AD. The only extant European manuscript of the Beowulf text is placed at around 1010. The epic tells the tale of the Scandinavian hero Beowulf as he struggles against three adversaries; the monster Grendel, Grendel's mother and an unnamed dragon. The epic was recently released as a blockbuster film starring Ray Winstone...

Seafaring Lore And Legend

"A valuable and lively resource. Jeans sorts truth from fiction with a sure hand and does full justice to both."—Peter Stanford, President Emeritus, National Maritime Historical Society. “A veritable sourcebook of nautical history, beliefs, and heritage. Every true mariner will get lost in this book.”— Boating. Seafaring Lore and Legend is a storehouse of wonders for those who love the sea. From Noah’s Ark to Thor Heyerdahl’s raft, from Atlantis to the Northwest Passage, author Peter Jeans scours the ages and the seven seas for fanciful, inspiring, and bizarre tales of sea monsters, ghost ships, lost continents, castaways, pirates, explorers, superstitions, and customs. Discover the surprising truths behind: The origins of naval salutes and the Beaufort Scale; Flogging a dead horse and other oddities of nautical custom; Sea chanties, scurvy, and the hardships of life at sea; Infamous and noteworthy sea captains and their ships; Famous wrecks and mutinies; Mermaids, sirens, and sea nymphs; Nautical superstitions such as the albatross and Fiddler’s Green; And much more. This is a book you can open anywhere to savor for a few minutes or an afternoon. But be careful: it's easy to lose track of time at sea.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to 2012

The final countdown?. On December 21, 2012, the Mayan calendar will complete its thirteenth cycle. According to the Mayan belief system, the world will end. And if you don’t believe the Mayans, you can check in with The Bible Code, The Nostradamus Code, or The Orion Prophecy, all of which predict planet-wide doom. Then again, maybe the year 2012 is just a new opportunity. Could 2012 bring us good things instead of bad? This book gives readers a look at what the Mayan prophecy is all about, what it means to them, and much more. •Addresses Mayan predictions about global warming and climate change. •Includes a glossary of terms and symbols, resources for a changing world, and exercises to assist the reader in their journey. •The existence of almost 600,000 websites on 2012 indicates a huge fascination with this subject

Legends, Myths, and Folktales

Part of the Britannica Learning Library Series, hear about the exciting magical tales that have entertained us for centuries, taught us right from wrong, and explained the mysteries of the world.