A dictionary of fabulous beasts

By Richard Barber and Anne Riches

Book Overview

A dictionary? No, this is really an astonishing ark filled with beasts from a fabulous zoo far more varied and entertaining than anything from ordinary natural history. From Abaia and Abath to Ziz and Zu, from the microscopic Gigelorum that nests in a mite's ear to the giant serpent Jormungandor who encircles the whole globe, there are beasts from every corner of man's imagination: the light-hearted Fearsome Crittersof lumberjack tales find a place alongside the Sirrush of Babylon and the Winged Bulls of Assyria. Some of the fabulous beasts turn out to be real creatures in disguise - a Cameleopard is a kind of glamourised giraffe -while others are almost, but not quite, human. Among the six hundred entries are some which are full-scale essays in their own right, as on Phoenix or Giants; and just in case it seems as though the authors dreamt up the entire book, there is a detailed list of books for the would-be hunter in this mythical jungle.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0851150616
• ISBN13: 9780851150611
• Release Date: January 1975
• Publisher: Boydell Press
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Source of Information

A well-organized volume, spanning human creation to modern times, A Dictionary of Fabulous Beasts is a great start for exploring the many subjects of Mythology and Folklore as it pertains to creatures of the imagination. Drawing only from historical accounts and documents (avoiding modern fantasy all together), the dictionary provides detailed information of well-know and not-so-well-known creatures. For Fantasy readers, the book can provide a glimpse into history and fantasy, and for the casual reader, a treasure trove of both serious and lighthearted subjects. If this book has only one downfall, it's that it is too short, and doesn't delve much into the stories surrounding the creature; only the info on the creature itself. These are both minor shortcomings, and are easily missed