Book Cover
Book
Author Smith, W. Ramsay (William Ramsay), 1859-1937.

Title Myths and legends of the Australian aborigines / W. Ramsay Smith
Published Mineola, N.Y. : Dover Publications, 2003

Copies

Location Call no. Vol. Availability
 W'PONDS  398.20994 Smi/Mal 2003  AVAILABLE
 W'PONDS  398.20994 Smi/Mal 2003  AVAILABLE
 W'BOOL  398.20994 Smi/Mal 2003  AVAILABLE
 W'BOOL  398.20994 Smi/Mal 2003  AVAILABLE
Description 355 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm
Contents 1. Origins -- 2. Animal myths -- 3. Religion -- 4. Social -- 5. Personal myths
Summary "For many of their campfire tales, the aboriginal people of Australia looked to the skies, where they found a twinkling text of morals and stories within their own version of the zodiac. Today, the starry birds, fishes, and dancing men that provided a backdrop to life Down Under for thousands of years have found a new popularity beyond Australia. With this colorful compilation of oral traditions, readers can savor the tales as they were told by their aboriginal narrators. Footnotes throughout the text clarify occasional obscurities, providing background on aboriginal life and customs as the need for explanation arises. For the most part, however, the author allows the myths to speak for themselves, without any attempt to support or disprove anthropological theories. The myths range in nature and tone from reverent recountings of the origins of the world and human life, to legends about the roots of religious and social customs, to fanciful and humorous animal fables. Unabridged republication of Myths and Legends of the 'Australian Aboriginals', Ballantyne Press-Spottiswoode, Ballantyne & Co. Ltd., London, n.d., ca. 1930. Index. 63 black-and-white illustrations." -- Publisher description
Notes This edition originally published: Myths & legends of the Australian aboriginals. New York : Farrar & Rinehart, [1932] in series: The myths series
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Subject Aboriginal Australians -- Folklore.
Legends -- Australia.
Mythology, Aboriginal Australian.
LC no. 2003043925
ISBN 0486427099 (paperback)
9780486427096 (paperback)
Other Titles Myths & legends of the Australian aboriginals
Myths & legends of the Australian aboriginals