The Great Mystery: Myths of Native America - Hardcover

Philip, Neil

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9780395984055: The Great Mystery: Myths of Native America

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 039598405X ISBN 13: 9780395984055

Publisher: Clarion Books, 2001

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This authoritative guide to Native American myth and legend explores the powerful themes and dramatic stories that explain the great mysteries of life, death, how the world was created, and how it will end. A description of the nature of Native American myths, examining the common themes found in the rich mythology of the First Nations, is followed by chapters on main culture groups that include numerous excerpts from the myths themselves, many of them humorous. Folklorist Neil Philip has created an enthralling and multilayered book, handsomely illustrated with photographs printed in duotone, that will be treasured by anyone intrigued by Native American culture or mythology.

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About the Author:

Neil Philip is a noted folklorist and anthologist who has written several books on Native American and multicultural themes for Clarion, including IN A SACRED MANNER I LIVE, which was named both a YALSA Best Book for Young Adults and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. He lives in England.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 7 Up-This exhaustively researched book explores the similarities and differences among the tales told by various Native American cultural groups about the creation of the world, life, and death. Following an introductory chapter that describes the importance of lore and myths to our understanding of a cultural group, the text is organized by region. Within each area, the relationships among the tales of specific groups are discussed as well as the basic themes present in the stories of other peoples outside this area. Surprisingly, considering Philip's other work, the dry text reads more like a research report than an engaging narrative. Some of the retellings incorporated into it as illustrative examples reflect the work of an excellent storyteller while others lack this spark. Numerous sepia-toned archival photographs that loosely relate to the material discussed are found throughout the book. Their substantial captions contain a great deal of additional, explanatory material along with information on the source of the photograph, photographer, and date. The extensive bibliography is organized by geographical area. While not a title for students interested in leisure reading, it is a worthy book that will support research on Native American folklore.

Linda Greengrass, Bank Street College Library, New York City

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