Synopses & Reviews
Here are forty-one tales gathered from Amazonian fishermen, hunters, lodgers, small plot farm gardeners, and villagers in Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. Organized thematically, these tales for mature readers convey messages of kinship bonds and reciprocity, capturing the socialized relationships between peoples, animals, plants, places and a variety of shape-shifting supernatural entities. Often shocking or hair-raising, some of these tales even range into illicit topics, such as cannibalism and psychotropic plants.
Review
"If any of the countries of the great Amazon basin are in the curriculum of your school, then this is a fascinating collection of folktales that can be used to build authenticity into the study of the region. These tales are very different than the Eurocentral ones kids and teens have heard, so it is a fresh new experience…These are as close to authentic as it gets." - Teacher Librarian
Review
"Galeano, a poet and translator, left his native Columbia long ago, but recently revived an interest in the folktales of the region as a source for poetic and literary inspiration. He taped the stories from oral tellings, then drew on his literary craft to rework and rewrite them. In addition to offering the tales themselves, he demonstrates a way of looking at folklore from the perspective of art rather than social science. His sections are topical, with tales about origins; anacondas and boas; dolphins and other aquatic seducers; beasts and forest defenders; dark and malevolent shamans; punishment for ill behavior; and special places, plants, and birds." - Reference & Research Book News
Synopsis
More than 40 authentic tales from the Amazon River Basin are enhanced by illustrations, story notes, historical background information, a glossary, and more.
Synopsis
Illustrations, historical background, a map, glossary, and story notes enhance the collection. A great resource for folklorists, upper-level educators, anthropologists and storytellers (especially those looking for scary stories or tales with environmental themes), this book can be used as supplementary reading in college level courses on Amazonian culture and literature.
About the Author
JUAN CARLOS GALEANO is Professor of Spanish, Florida State University, a published poet, and the author of Cuentos amazonicos (Tierra Nueva Editores, 2007). He grew up in the Amazon region of Colombia.MICHAEL UZENDOSKI, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Florida State University; and a recognized cultural anthropologist whose work focuses on oral narratives of the Amazon.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Tales of Origin
Chapter 2: Tales about Anacondas and Boas
Chapter 3: Tales about Dolphins and Other Aquatic Seducers
Chapter 4: Tales of Beasts and Forest Defenders
Chapter 5: Tales of Dark and Malevolent Shamans
Chapter 6: Tales of Punishment for Ill Behavior
Chapter 7: Tales of Special Places, Plants, and Birds