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Различные книги в жанре СказкиArthurian Romances
Chretien de Troyes was a French poet in the late 12th century whose work represents some of the best examples of Arthurian legend from medieval times. Contained in this volume are the four complete Arthurian romances that have survived. The first of these stories is that of «Erec and Enide», which recounts the story of Erec, one of King Arthur's knights, and the conflict between love and knighthood he experiences in his marriage to Enide. The second romance is the tale of the knight «Cligès» and his love for his uncle's wife, Fenice. The third romance is that of «Yvain, the Knight of the Lion», in which Yvain seeks to avenge his cousin Calogrenant, who had been defeated by an otherworldly knight. Lastly is the tale of «Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart», which centers on Lancelot's rescue of Guinevere, King Arthur's queen. These classic medieval poems form some of the earliest and most prominent examples of the legend of King Arthur.
In Ghostly Japan
Upon his arrival in Japan in 1890, Lafcadio Hearn found himself enamored with the culture, people, and stories of the country, and would make Japan his home until his death in 1904. His collections of stories published during this time became the most popular of Hearn's writings, and earned him veneration worldwide as not only a great translator of Japanese mythology, but as a sensational teller of strange and wonderfully macabre tales. «In Ghostly Japan» is a wonderful collection of twelve ghostly stories and explorations of Shinto and Buddhist proverbs: «Fragment,» «Furisodé,» «Incense,» «A Story of Divination,» «Silkworms,» «A Passional Karma,» «Footprints of Buddha,» «Ululation,» «Bits of poetry,» «Japanese Buddhist Proverbs,» «Suggestion,» «Ingwa-Banashi,» «Story of a Tengu,» and «At Yaidzu.» Hearn was made a professor of English literature in the Imperial University of Tokyo in 1895, and is today revered by the Japanese for providing significant insights into their own national character.
The Aeneid (Prose)
"The Aeneid" is considered by some to be one of the most important epic poems of all time. The story is as much one of the great epic hero, Aeneas, as it is of the foundation of the great Roman Empire. Aeneas, a Trojan Prince, who escapes after the fall of troy, travels with others to Italy to lay the foundations for what would become the great Roman Empire. Virgil's «Aeneid» is a story of great adventure, of war, of love, and of the exploits of a great epic hero. In this work Virgil makes commentary on the state of Rome during the Rule of Augustus. It was a time that had been previously ravaged by civil wars, but with the reign of Augustus, order and peace had begun to become restored. That order had a price though. Many of the freedoms of the old Roman Republic had been lost under the new Imperialistic Rome. This loss of freedom and the debate over the virtues of a Republican Rome versus an Imperialistic Rome was central to Virgil's time and is interwoven throughout the narrative of «The Aeneid.» In this edition of Virgil's epic classic we find the prose translation of J. W. Mackail.
The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology
"The Prose Edda", or «Younger Edda», is a classic collection of Norse myths of the Icelandic people. Widely considered as compiled by Icelandic scholar and historian Snorri Sturluson around the year 1220, «The Prose Edda» contains a euhemerized Prologue followed by three tales: the 'Gylfaginning', the story of the creation and destruction of the world of the Norse gods; the 'Skáldskaparmál', consists of a dialogue between Ægir, a god associated with the sea, and Bragi, a skaldic god; and the 'Háttatal', a collection of Old Norse poetry including original compositions by Snorri Sturluson. This classic collection of Old Norse myths is one of the most important of the Icelandic eddas and a must read for fans and scholars of Norse mythology.
Egil's Saga
The oldest transcript of «Egil's Saga» dates back to 1240 AD. Annonymously written, this epic Icelandic saga tells the story of the long and brutal life of tenth-century warrior-poet, Egil Skallagrissmon. It recounts Egil's progression from youthful barbarity to mature understanding as he struggles to defend his honor in a running feud with the Norwegian king, Erik Bloodaxe and fight for the English king, Athelstan in his battles against Scotland. Throughout there are vivid descriptions of his other fights, friendships, and voyages, most of which are surrounded by battle. Egil's versatile nature reflects the ambivalent qualities and relationships of his family, highlighted by his jealously and fondness for his older brother. Starting in Norway around 850 AD, the saga covers a long period of time, ending around the year 1000 AD. The stages of Egil's life are narrated by his frequent segments of poetry. Exploring issues as varied as the power of poetry, the question of loyalty and the relationship between two brothers, Egil's Saga is a captivating depiction of an acutely human character.
Parzival
German poet Wolfram von Eschenbach's romance story «Parzival» tells the whirlwind tale of a young man's life as a knight in search for the Holy Grail. It follows the Medieval heroic story of Parzival (Percival in the English texts) as he tries to balance his desire for love with his quest for the Grail. At first, Parzival is childish and ignorant, and his bad choices prohibit him from obtaining the Grail. Only through purging his soul through a number of trials and hardships is Parzival sanctified enough to be chosen by the Grail. An interesting choice by von Eschenbach in retelling this legend is to not portray the Holy Grail as a cup, as typified by the classic English versions of the Arthurian legends. In his version, the Grail is not even associated with the Christian concept of the chalice of Christ. Rather, the Holy Grail is a life-giving stone that provides food and eternal life to the men and women who live in the castle that protects the Grail. The story is also a close look into the life and culture of the folk traditions that pervaded the time. Von Eschenbach includes such common events as tournaments and jousts, which add to the realistic properties of the text. He also made a conscious choice with the type of «romance» that the poem uses; von Eschenbach stays true to the courtship and kinship rules of Medieval romances, making this work a window into the societal rules that governed the behavior of knights, their relationships, and their pursuit of courtly love.
Stories of Beowulf Told to Children
Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall achieved some notoriety in the early part of the 20th century for her historical works aimed at younger readers. Notable amongst these include «Our Island Story» which is a history of England from the time of the Roman Empire's invasion of England until the death of Queen Victoria. In this work «Stories of Beowulf Told to Children» the author turns her attention to a retelling of England's most famous work written in Old English, the heroic epic poem «Beowulf.» The classic battles of this epic in which Beowulf fights the Ogre Grendel, the Water Witch, and the dragon are retold here for a younger audience.
Beowulf
Dating from between the 8th and 11th century Beowulf is the oldest known English epic poem. Beowulf is a narrative poem about the kings and heroes of Denmark and Geatland. It is a story of mythic creatures and medieval battles between men and monsters. Follow the adventures of Beowulf, the story's title character, as he battles the Grendel, the Grendel's mother, and a dragon. As you read imagine yourself in one of the taverns or royal courts of Old England hearing the great epic Beowulf, for the first time as you might well have then. Passed down by oral tradition Beowulf's author is to this day unknown. The original manuscript was written in Anglo-Saxon or Old English. Presented here is the faithful translation of Francis B. Gummere.
The Myths of the Norsemen
H. A. Geuerber’s «The Myths of the Norsemen» is a classic collection of stories retold from Norse mythology. Beginning with the Norse myth of creation and following through the sagas of more than twenty gods, heroes and villains, «The Myths of the Norsemen» recounts the rich mythological tradition of the Norse people. Of the more familiar characters in this collection one might immediately recognize the stories of Odin and Thor. These stories are brought together with less familiar Norse myths in a collection that includes reproductions of illustrations from the original edition. Readers both young and old will delight in these classic tales of adventure and fantasy.
Le Morte d'Arthur
First published in 1485, during England's War of the Roses, «Le Morte d'Arthur» or «The Death of Arthur» combines all of the known legends of King Arthur into one creative text. Beginning with the birth of Arthur and telling the tale of his rise to become the head of the Knights of the Round Table and the husband of Guinevere, we also learn of Lancelot, Arthur's most venerated knight. Many of the other knights' stories are told with varying degrees of respect for the code of chivalry they are to abide by, including the quest for the Holy Grail. The decline of the Round Table is brought about by opposing forces within, of which the adulterous affair of Guinevere and Lancelot plays a destructive role. Treachery reveals this forbidden passion to Arthur, and his revenge leads to his death. This comprehensive telling of Arthurian legend reflects both medieval chivalry and the fractious social unrest characteristic of Malory's time, of which he was literally a prisoner, in a work that is both monumental and enduring.