Name: Latin American Folktales
Price: 22.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: John Bierhorst
ISBN: 9780375714399

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

Over one hundred stories showcasing the wisdom and artistry of one the world’s richest folktale traditions—the first panoramic anthology of Hispano-American folk narratives in any language.

Gathered from twenty countries and combining the lore of medieval Europe, the ancient Near East, and pre-Columbian America, the stories brought together here represent a core collection of classic Latin American folktales. Among the essential characters are the quiet man’s wife who knew the Devil’s secrets, the three 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.

Featuring black-and-white illustrations throughout, this Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library edition is unprecedented in size and scope, including riddles, folk prayers, and fables never before translated into English.

“A cornucopia of magic and myth . . . Beware, for the pages of this volume—filled with tricksters, witches, and ghosts—are enchanted!”
—Ilan Stavans

“Delightful . . . A rich and magical history of Hispanic and Indian traditions in the Americas. There is enough magic in this book to please everyone.”
—The Virginian-Pilot

“Beware. This book has the ability to cast spells. After about a dozen pages, the reader slips from the present and into a magical time and place. Bierhorst has written many books based on Latin American lore, and [this] may well be his best. He approaches his subject matter with respect and humor, [and] the result is a panoramic anthology retaining the magic and allure that are the hallmarks of oral storytelling.”
—Arizona Daily Star

“Bierhorst is a prolific folklorist who specializes in making oral traditions from a variety of cultures accessible to the general reading public. Each reader is certain to find favorites of his or her own.”
—Richmond Times-Dispatch

Latin American Folktales

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Part of The Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library