Like the title says, I am on the hunt for books with Fairytales and Folklore. And I thought: "Who else knows more about these things than the avid King's Quest fan?!"
I have already bought H.C. Andersen, Brothers Grimm and Arabian Nights(All 1001 of them).
I have also ordered "Japanese Tales" and "The Kalevala: Tales of Magic and Adventure" from amazon.
Anything else someone can recommend?
Is the Arabian Nights in French?
there's always the classic La Fountain fables
you could also try this if you're interested in Russian folklore (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Russian-Pushkin-Platonov-Penguin-Classics/dp/0141442239/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360236228&sr=8-1)
My all-time favorite:
The Frog Prince from the Grimm Brothers.
The princess didn't kiss the frog. She got mad and threw him against the wall. I read the story in 2nd year high school German. (I was bored because they had to teach the rest of the class English grammar before teaching German grammar.) When I first read it, I thought I must have mistranslated something. XD
Quote from: snabbott on February 07, 2013, 06:49:12 AM
My all-time favorite:
The Frog Prince from the Grimm Brothers.
The princess didn't kiss the frog. She got mad and threw him against the wall. I read the story in 2nd year high school German. (I was bored because they had to teach the rest of the class English grammar before teaching German grammar.) When I first read it, I thought I must have mistranslated something. XD
There's just so much win there... I'm not sure where to begin...
except here--
Quote from: snabbott on February 07, 2013, 06:49:12 AM
(I was bored because they had to teach the rest of the class English grammar before teaching German grammar.)
This is not win... well, it's win for snabbott, but sadly, this is the state of things in far too many language classrooms. :( :no:
Fun!
I've always wanted to get my hands on some original versions of the Grimm fairy tales, read how they "really" ended.
Quote from: Deloria on February 07, 2013, 03:33:49 AM
Is the Arabian Nights in French?
No, because don't speak French. It's this version (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Arabian-Nights-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140449388/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1360250691&sr=8-9).
Quote from: stika on February 07, 2013, 04:24:33 AM
you could also try this if you're interested in Russian folklore (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Russian-Pushkin-Platonov-Penguin-Classics/dp/0141442239/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360236228&sr=8-1)
Well, I've tried to find a good book with Slavic folklore. But I wonder which is better, that or this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0394730909/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE)?
Quote from: KatieHal on February 07, 2013, 08:19:58 AM
Fun!
I've always wanted to get my hands on some original versions of the Grimm fairy tales, read how they "really" ended.
I'm not sure, but I *think* that this (http://www.amazon.com/Grimms-Complete-Fairy-Tales-Jacob/dp/1435114892/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360251930&sr=1-2&keywords=complete+grimm) book has the uncensored stories(Sure enough, the frog gets thrown against the wall). In any case, it's a absolutely beautiful book!
Quote from: Mr_Nabby on February 07, 2013, 08:50:20 AM
Quote from: stika on February 07, 2013, 04:24:33 AM
you could also try this if you're interested in Russian folklore (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Russian-Pushkin-Platonov-Penguin-Classics/dp/0141442239/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360236228&sr=8-1)
Well, I've tried to find a good book with Slavic folklore. But I wonder which is better, that or this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0394730909/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE)?
I'm afraid that's something I can't really help, there aren't enough reviews on amazon to make a clear comparison
Quote from: Delling on February 07, 2013, 06:59:17 AM
Quote from: snabbott on February 07, 2013, 06:49:12 AM
(I was bored because they had to teach the rest of the class English grammar before teaching German grammar.)
This is not win... well, it's win for snabbott, but sadly, this is the state of things in far too many language classrooms. :( :no:
Yeah - it's pretty depressing that they have to teach American high school students basic English grammar - I learned that stuff in elementary school. :-\ Come on, people, it's not that hard!
I was reading material for German V in German II. It was difficult because I didn't have the vocabulary down - it felt like I had to look up every other word. :P What's really sad is that it was a children's book I was reading:
Emil und die Detektive. :P
Also, reading the German font (Fraktur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraktur)?) made my head hurt. :P
Only tangentially related to the topic at hand, I remember seeing a Japanese book that boasted it had all of the kanji you'd need to know to pass the AP Japanese exam, three different levels of professional proficiency, or second grade as a Japanese child. :P
Hahahaha! XD
Regarding fairy tales/folklore - don't forget Greek and Roman mythology! (Sorry, I don't know a particular book for this.)
And Japanese Mythology too!
I say go for the Afanasyev. I consider him to be the authority on the subject.
I asked if the Arabian Nights book was in French because oriental things were originally translated into French because it was thought to be more fashionable. This led to a trend of pseudo-oriental things being written by French authors and sold as authentic and recently rediscovered stories.
Thanks Deloria. It's always nice to have some advice for these things.
And about Japanese mythology, I believe that I already mentioned that I had ordered Japanese Tales (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Japanese-Tales-Pantheon-Folklore-Library/dp/0375714510/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360272183&sr=1-1) from amazon. Buuut, I might compliment that with a book about Yokai...
Also, Greek/Roman mythology, I think I might go with Ovid's Metamorphoses (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/014044789X/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE#_).
Quote from: Mr_Nabby on February 07, 2013, 01:13:35 AM
"The Kalevala: Tales of Magic and Adventure"
Hahahhahahaa! That's what they're calling it now? "Tales of Magic and Adventure"? When Elias Lönnrot used to gather the stories he had some trouble with people not being able to remember the stories, except when alcohol was involved. It should be "Tales of Drunken Ramblings".
Oh, yeah, Ovid's a pretty standard text for Roman mythology, and for good reason.
I also recommend Norse and Egyptian myths, but I don't actually know of any good books that summarise them. Norse mythology has a trickster god who gets his mouth sewn shut and is later tied to a tree by his entrails. Egyptian mythology includes a God who is cut into many many pieces and them successfully put back together except for his p****, because nobody can find it. FUN! :D
How broadly are you looking?
African folklore (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_folklore) has some interesting elements, such as the Tokoloshe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokoloshe) or the trickster Anansi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anansi). As to books on the matter, I don't think that I know of any specific books offhand, but you might find something worth looking at in the "Further Reading" or "External Links" sections of the above-linked pages, or those of linked pages.
For something more general, I don't know how authoritative they are, but I've had enjoyment and inspiration from the Time-Life Enchanted World series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchanted_World_Series), which includes quite a wide range of stories, including fairy tales, folk-tales, myths and legends, as I recall.
Ah... Anansi the Spider. I remember those stories from when I was a child!
The Green Fairy Book, and other books in the color Fairy series by Andrew Lang were a big influence on Roberta. Also books on more obscure things--creatures such as Undines, books on things such as the Zodiac, Elemental Magick and Gnosticism inspired some elements in the later games, as did Greco-Roman mythology. Also I'd check out H.R. Giger. His art style inspired parts of KQ5 and KQ6 (Mordack's Island and the Realm of the Dead, respectively). She was also inspired by H.P. Lovecraft. So if you're looking for things which influenced KQ it goes greatly beyond fairy tales.
For great fairy tales, myths and folklore, you really can't beat the Bible. There really are some great ones in there.
The Bhagavad Gita, as well, is a great source of stories from South Asia.
Bt
Y'know, I would defend against you saying that, but I'd rather not start an argument.
No need to start an argument - both books have some wonderful stories and mythlogy in them.
Bt
True.
Wagner's operas (especially the Ring cycle) should give you marvelous insight into the Germanic myths.
@Lork: The collective compound noun people use for theories on how the world was formed is "creation myth."
Quote from: Deloria on February 10, 2013, 02:47:02 AM
Wagner's operas (especially the Ring cycle) should give you marvelous insight into the Germanic myths.
He totally stole that from Tolkien! ;) :P
Quote from: snabbott on February 10, 2013, 09:03:55 AM
Quote from: Deloria on February 10, 2013, 02:47:02 AM
Wagner's operas (especially the Ring cycle) should give you marvelous insight into the Germanic myths.
He totally stole that from Tolkien! ;) :P
Ow... my head hurts... :stars: Now, never do that again. :P
Hahahaha! :evil: