Latin American Folktales: Stories from Hispanic and Indian Traditions (The Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library) - Softcover

Bierhorst, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0375714391 ISBN 13: 9780375714399

Publisher: Pantheon, 2003

Synopsis

The wisdom and artistry of storytellers from Hispanic and Indian traditions preserve one of the world's richest folktale traditions—combining the lore of medieval Europe, the ancient Near East, and pre-Columbian America. Gathered from twenty countries, including the United States, the stories are brought together here in a core collection of one hundred tales arranged in the form of a velorio, or wake, the most frequent occasion for public storytelling. This is the first panoramic anthology of Hispano-American folk narratives in any language.

Part of the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

The wisdom and artistry of Latin America's storytellers preserve one of the world's richest folktale traditions--combining the lore of medieval Europe, the ancient Near East, and pre-Columbian America. Among the essential characters are the quiet man's wife who knew the Devil's secrets, the tree daughters who robbed their father's grave, and the wife in disguise who married her own husband--not to mention the Bear's son, the tricksters Fox and Monkey, the two compadres, and the classic rogue Pedro de Urdemalas.
Gathered from twenty countries, including the United States, the stories are here brought together in a core collection of one hundred tales arranged in the form of a "velorio, or wake, the most frequent occasion for public storytelling. The tales are preceded by a selection of early Colonial legends foreshadowing the themes of Latino folklore and are followed by a carefully chosen group of modern Indian myths that replay the basic stories in a contrasting key. Riddles, chain riddles, and folk prayers, part and parcel of the "velorio along with folktales, are introduced at appropriate junctures.
The collection is unprecedented in size and scope, and most of the tales have not been translated into English before. The result is the first panoramic anthology of Hispano-American folk narratives in any language--meant to be dipped into at random or read straight through from "Once and twice makes thrice upon a time" to "They were happy as the dickens and ate chickens."

"From the Hardcover edition.

From the Back Cover:

"A cornucopia of magic and myth. . . . Beware, for the pages of this volume--filled with tricksters, witches, and ghosts--are enchanted!" --Ilan Stavans, Professor of Spanish, Amherst College, and author of On Borrowed Words

About this edition

• Publisher: Pantheon
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0375714391
• ISBN 13: 9780375714399
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400