World Folklore

For millennia, people considered dragons to be real, and the vivid lore of dragons has touched societies from Central America to Europe, and from Egypt to China. The popularity of dragons can easily be assessed by the number of motion pictures that include them as an integral part of their narrative, from the friendly dragons of children’s cartoons to the monsters being bred underground to unleash their horrors on humanity.

There are more than 220 million cats in the world, and this book has stories about the world’s favourite pet from all across the globe. From an owner with 96 cats in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to a daring cat-escape from Lebanon to the Middle East, the book tells many fine feline tales. We also list over 20 different breeds from around the world, where they’re from and a short description. Truly a global cat reference for any cat-lover.

In the 15th century, four Mahu sail from Tahiti to Hawaii and share their gifts of science and healing with the people of Waikiki. The islanders return this gift with a monument of four boulders in their honor, which the Mahu imbue with healing powers before disappearing. As time passes, foreigners inhabit the island and the once-sacred stones are forgotten until the 1960s. Though the true story of these stones was not fully recovered, the power of the Mahu still calls out to those who pass by them at Waikiki Beach today.

When Heimdall and Hyrrokkin abandon their "children" to go on holiday, Odin sends Baldur—Thor's half brother and god of making Loki look bad—to babysit. As Baldur and Thor bond, Loki's attempts to prove he's good start getting a bit desperate. After the drama teacher casts him as the villain in the school play, Loki starts to wonder whether there's any point in being good when everyone seems convinced of his villainy.

Charles Alexander Eastman (1858-1939) was a mixed-blood Sioux. He became one of the best known Indians of his time, receiving a bachelor of science degree from Dartmouth in 1887 and a medical degree from Boston University three years later.

This audiobook is crafted not just for myth enthusiasts but for anyone seeking to understand the profound impact of these ancient stories on our modern world. Embark on your Viking journey today. Don't let the sagas of old remain a mystery.

Spanning several centuries of history in the Pacific, The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi: Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People is a collection of Hawaiian stories that were preserved through the ages by oral tradition and documented for posterity by King David Kalākaua in 1887. This massive tome recalls the tales of chiefs and kings, explorers and pirates, prophets, sorceresses, and renegades. This is the first in a series of 22 parts.

For centuries, beautifully illustrated fairy-tale volumes have rested innocently on kids' night tables around the world, long ago relegated to the dubious honor of being branded as "children's literature". But every story is a file packed with information, and Cinderella, Snow White, Puss in Boots, and Bluebeard have always intimated that perhaps they have more to tell besides "beautiful" stories, the same ones that animated the minds of several generations of children.

"Tales and Trails: Unraveling Asia's Urban Myths" is a delightful voyage through Asia's strangeness. This excellent book explores China, Korea, and Japan's cultures. It vibrantly blends folklore, history, and the human spirit. See the terrifying Gumiho, brave Chollima, mysterious Jade Rabbit, and Forbidden City whispers. Climb Kuchisake-Onna's terrifying peak in the dark Aokigahara Forest. From Beijing's hectic streets to China's calm farms, Japan's intriguing forests to Korea's wild beaches, these stories take listeners to many places.

Almost everyone is familiar with names like Thor and Loki from movies, comics and other corners of the media world today, but where do they come from? That's exactly what this book looks at. You'll dive for a while into the origins of these familiar names of Norse mythology. You'll not only get an overview of the scientific sources if you desire to further investigate more specifically than what is presented here, you'll also get a short but concise introduction to the mythological world created in a pre-Christian time.

For the last nine centuries, Hawaiian tradition has used the wickedness of the Maui king Hua to depict the consequences of sacrificing righteousness for superficial political gains. His reign was known for its pointless warfare, waste of resources, and corruption. Condemning his dutiful high priest to death under false pretenses, Hua and his subjects finally earn the wrath of the gods. Drought and famine decimate Maui. The lush countryside of Hana becomes a wasteland. As they flee, the curse follows. Atonement resides with the sons of the murdered priest. If they can be found.

King David Kalākaua introduces us to the people upon whom the legend of the Pele family is based. They departed Samoa as war refugees in the 12th century, settling in the foothills of Mauna Loa. As earthquakes and eruptions occurred during their interactions with the Hawaiians, this family of kahuna were accorded what the king described as “unique sanctity and power”. Pele was as mighty as she was beautiful. The tales of the volcano goddess earned the attention of Kamapuaa, the outcast son of the chief of Oahu who terrorized the island with his band of renegades.