Aborigine Myths and Legends
by W. Ramsay Smith
83 Members (3.50)
On This Page
Description
"For many of their campfire tales, the aboriginal people of Australia looked to the skies, where they found a twinkling text of morals and stories within their own version of the zodiac. Today, the starry birds, fishes, and dancing men that provided a backdrop to life Down Under for thousands of years have found a new popularity beyond Australia. With this colorful compilation of oral traditions, readers can savor the tales as they were told by their aboriginal narrators. Footnotes show more throughout the text clarify occasional obscurities, providing background on aboriginal life and customs as the need for explanation arises. For the most part, however, the author allows the myths to speak for themselves, without any attempt to support or disprove anthropological theories. The myths range in nature and tone from reverent recountings of the origins of the world and human life, to legends about the roots of religious and social customs, to fanciful and humorous animal fables. Unabridged republication of Myths and Legends of the 'Australian Aboriginals', Ballantyne Press-Spottiswoode, Ballantyne & Co. Ltd., London, n.d., ca. 1930. Index. 63 black-and-white illustrations." -- Publisher description. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Books cited in Progress by Samuel McDonald
160 works; 1 member
Author Information
3 Works 86 Members
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Aborigine Myths and Legends
- Original title
- Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals
- Alternate titles
- Myths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines
- Original publication date
- 1930
- Important places
- Australia
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History
- DDC/MDS
- 398.20994 — Society, government, & culture Customs, etiquette & folklore Folklore & Folktales Folk literature History, geographic treatment, biography Folklore of Australnesia and the Pacific Islands Australia
- LCC
- GR365 .S6 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Folklore Folklore By region or country
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 83
- Popularity
- 384,760
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 3
