Books in Oxford myths and legends series series

Here's a fresh and readable retelling of the Welsh legends--a story of giants and kings, of mysterious Celtic magic, enchanted castles, Old King Cole, Merlin the eternal magician, and the promise of a once and future king. This is the story of Britain beyond the mists of history, when it was known as Island of the Mighty. Full color and black and white illustrations combine with the text to appeal to young readers while retaining the power and poetry of the old stories.

This lively collection comes from West Africa, a place 'where stories grow on trees'. Here are the famous tricksters: Hare, Tortoise, and the greatest of them all - Ananse the spider. The stories are full of larger-than-life characters and situations; and include the tale of how Ananse got his thin waist, how Crocodile learnt his lesson, and how Monkey managed not to get eaten by Shark.

This lively collection comes from West Africa, a place "where stories grow on trees." Here are the famous tricksters: Hare, Tortoise, and the greatest of them all--Ananse the spider. The stories are full of larger-than-life characters and situations, and include the tale of how Ananse got his thin waist, how Crocodile learnt his lesson, and how Monkey managed not to get eaten by Shark.

Indian Tales and Legends is a book of contrasts: there are simple folk tales about cats, mice and tortoises, about a tiger of very great cunning, and a jackal who dyed himself blue. There are strange legends of ten-headed demons, of rogues and villains, of splendid kings ruling from jewelled thrones, the air around them heavy with the scent of flowers. And at the heart of the book is the great Indian epic The Ramayana: the marriage of Rama and Sita, the loss of Sita, and of how the monkey god Hanuman went in search of her.

This astonishing book: Mexico and Peru Myths and Legends is a gem. The ancient cultures of Mexico and Peru are renowned for their improving architecture and the cruelty of their religious practices. Less well-known, but equally intriguing are the myths on which their beliefs were based. This detailed exploration look at the Toltec and Aztec people of central Mexico, the Mayans of the Yucatan and the Incas of Peru.

Here are stirring tales of pre-Islamic kings and heroes, and of the conflict between Ormuzd, god of goodness and light, and Ahrim-an, god of darkness and evil. For centuries the Persians waged war against their traditional enemies the Turanians, and from this struggle came inspring stories of valour. This collection includes tales of the legendary heroes, including the great warrior Rustem, who overcame demons and dragons and tragically slew his own son in battle.

It is the tenth year of the siege of Troy, and no one knows who will win. The gods watch from Mount Olympus and fight, too, some for the Greeks and some for the Trojans. There are battles and quarrels, and Achilles--the greatest warrior among the Greeks--refuses to fight any longer. But then the Trojan champion Hector kills Achilles's great friend, and Achilles goes out to avenge him... Homer's great epic poem is brought to life in this critically acclaimed retelling. Heroic sagas, myths and legends evoking magical times long past, fairy tales and fantasies--they all come together in this collection of new and newly-reissued titles in Oxford's classic Story Collections series (formerly Myths and Legends). Each of these handsome books brings together both familiar and little-known stories from a culture rich in folklore and tradition. The myths and stories--of bloodthirsty Vikings, Gaelic knights, Chinese ghosts and demons, Indian princes and heroes--supply a textured, living background to history and a more in-depth understanding of a world culture. Redesigned covers, compact size, more illustrations, reduced price, and enhanced readability are the prominent new features of these reissues. The perfect introduction to the diversity of world cultures, the books in the Oxford Story Collections invite adults to let their children in on the beloved fantasy world of their own childhood. (reissue of ISBN 0-19-274147-0)

France is full of folk tales and fairy stories. From the last stand of the knights, Roland and Oliver, through the legend of how the great stones of Britanny came into being, and on to the fairy story of the Mouse-Princess, there is something here for everyone. Tales of the French epic heroes, courtly tales from the middle ages, and various legends from the French provinces are retold by a distinguished storyteller.

Distinguished author Barbara Leonie Picard says that during World War II she sought to "forget the sad war days by writing fairy tales: simply because I had always liked fairy tales." After the war, she continued to create stories full of adventure and romance and tinged with melancholy in the best tradition of storytellers of old. Now, in this new book, she has chosen her favorites to be gathered together for the first time. The Sea King's Daughter--the first fairy tale Ms. Picard ever wrote--is a concise and masterful tale of a prince, his new bride, and a scorned and powerful maiden from the sea. Promises are made and broken, and the prince learns the price true love demands. In Count Alaric's Lady a young man discovers that his lady is not from his world, but from that of the "fairy people." Only by offering her a perfect love will he keep her by his side. Little Lady Margaret lives a lonely life that promises to get only gloomier until she learns to weave herself into her needlepoint tapestry. These stories and 13 others, full of magic and wonder, are distinguished by Ms. Picard's gracefully simple prose and by the exquisite black and white line drawings of Julia Cobbold. This is a collection that will charm readers of all ages.