Synopses & Reviews
This comprehensive and entertaining compendium of toad lore surveys the history of toads as biological entity, literary and artistic subject, mythological subject, and threatened species. Here is a uniquely insightful and engaging look at how humans through the ages have responded to and been influenced by their amphibian neighbors.
Review
"An entertaining, imaginative treatise that will appeal to readers who appreciate the unusual in prose, poetry, and art."
Review
"The choice of tales, poetry, and art flawlessly illustrates the text. This volume is a rare treasure."
Review
"An entertaining, imaginative treatise that will appeal to readers who appreciate the unusual in prose, poetry, and art."
Review
"The choice of tales, poetry, and art flawlessly illustrates the text. This volume is a rare treasure."
Review
"By integrating his commentary with the world of poetry, literature, art, and science, the author presents examples of the impact the toad has had upon the thoughts and actions of humankind. Degraaff considers this amphibian from every angle--from its biological aspects, which include its heritage as the evolutionary progenitor of land animals, to its role in mysticism and its value as an ingredient in witch's brew. He also incorporates the writings of Lewis Carroll, Beatrice Potter, William Shakespeare, and many others. Degraaff's whimsical approach to this offbeat subject and the many high-quality art reproductions combine to produce an attractive, entertaining package for general readers."
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-202) and index.
About the Author
Robert DeGraaff has been a professor of Victorian literature at St. Lawrence University for more than twenty years. He is also an accomplished limericist and the tiller of a 5,000-square-foot vegetable garden, in which he communes whenever possible with Bufo americanus, the American toad.
Table of Contents
andlt;bandgt;The Book of the Toadandlt;/bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;iandgt;A Natural and Magical History of Toad-Human Relationsandlt;/iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Acknowledgments andlt;BRandgt;Preface andlt;BRandgt;Introduction andlt;BRandgt;Part I: A Natural History andlt;BRandgt;Toad or Frog? andlt;BRandgt;Toad Evolution andlt;BRandgt;Toad Music andamp; Mating andlt;BRandgt;Toad Navigation andlt;BRandgt;Toad the Hunter andlt;BRandgt;Toad the Hunted andlt;BRandgt;Part II: Toad-Human Relations andlt;BRandgt;The Pharmaceutical Toad andlt;BRandgt;Bufotenine, Shamanism, andamp; Toad the Earth Mother andlt;BRandgt;The Oriental Toad andlt;BRandgt;The Evil Medieval Toad andlt;BRandgt;Toads andamp; Witchcraft andlt;BRandgt;Queen Elizabeth andamp; the Frog/Toad Duke andlt;BRandgt;Toad Folk andamp; Fairy Tales andlt;BRandgt;The Enduring Toad andlt;BRandgt;The Toad Among Children andlt;BRandgt;Real Toads in Real Gardens andlt;BRandgt;The Toad Today andlt;BRandgt;Appendix A: The Great Toad Hunt, by Howard McCord andlt;BRandgt;Appendix B: LeCrapaud, by Victor Hugo andlt;BRandgt;Bibliography andlt;BRandgt;Index