Books in Oxford myths and legends series series

From a land of dark forests and wide rivers come heroic tales of the legendary Russian heroes and traditional tales of every kind from villages and towns all across Russia. Here are stories of princes and princesses, of merchants, boyars, cossacks, angels, robbers and minstrels, of mountains of gold, and of the Water of Life and Death. Some of the stories are familiar, like the tale of the Firebird, but many are new to Western culture.

Here are Dan-Gun, the first emperor, whose mother was a bear; Shim Chung, who sacrificed herself to the sea to restore her father's sight, and the magistrate who tried to steal the Dragon King's daughter. The traditional Korean tales in this collection are full of amazing events and characters typical of the Far Eastern folklore. Sad, happy, romantic, and funny, together these tales bring vividly to life the magic of Korea.(reissue of ISBN 0-19-274160-8)

Long ago, when Hungarians used to tell each other tales in the evenings, they thought up some of the most amazing things. In this edition, Hungarian-born Val Biro retells and illustrates a favorite selection of his country's stories. Among them, goblins rain from the sky; the Mayor's 'mare's egg' gives birth to a rabbit; and Amalfi, son of the apple, finds his destiny in a flying palace.

Action, adventure, and magic are the elements of these five exciting tales of heroism, illustrated with striking full-color artwork. Children enter enchanted worlds where heroes with superhuman strength fight monsters and dragons, where bizarre creatures roam, and where ships are wrecked in storms created by angry gods.•Adventure stories that will appeal to children and reluctant readers.•Magnificent original artwork.•Stories retold by a well-known children's author.

A classic collection of stories by one of the best-known and most esteemed retellers of the last fifty years. Enter a world of cunning, trickery, and revenge. Encounter bold warriors, courageous women, strength in battle and bravery against the odds. These are the stories of the Viking gods. Drama and action abound as legendary heroes struggle against mighty giants, loathsome beasts, and sinister dwarves--even as they fight amongst themselves. (reissue of ISBN 0-19-274167-5)

These folk-tales were told by simple people--vine-dressers, farm-laborers, millers--and were preserved by word of mouth, to be repeated for entertainment in the coffee-house, or at home during the long, hard winters. There are fables here, too, selected from the collections of medieval scholars and philosophers, while the expressive and often humorous proverbs show the ways of the world through shrewd Armenian eyes.

This collection of Chinese stories begins with the great legends of how Earth and Heaven came into being, and of how the archer Yi rid the Emperor Yao of the menace of the ten suns. There are folk-tales here, too: about ghosts and rain-makers, poor students and magicians, and the man who was nearly made into fishpaste. Throughout all of these stories Cyril Birch has kept the subtle flavor of the originals and brings to life all of the magic and mystery of China.

Here are Dan-Gun, the first emperor, whose mother was a bear; Shim Chung, who sacrificed herself to the sea to restore her father's sight, and the magistrate who tried to steal the Dragon King's daughter. The traditional Korean tales in this collection are full of amazing events and characters. Sad, happy, romantic, and funny, together they bring vividly to life the magic of Korea.