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Synopsis
The Caucasus has an extremely rich folk literature, almost unknown among English readers, which includes myths, legends, magical tales, anecdotes and proverbs. The one hundred and one legends included in this volume reflect the cultures of fourteen different ethnic groups - their dynamism and the matters that concerned them: survival against external dangers, the risk of starvation and the persistence of the family or clan as a coordinated group. Descended from an oral tradition, much of their knowledge was retained in memories and passed down the generations. Yet, with the introduction of the alphabet, the way of life they portray is rapidly becoming extinct. An incomparable collection, Legends of the Caucasus conveys the poetry and romance of these swiftly vanishing tribes. About the author David Hunt is an expert of Caucasus folk literature. He was awarded the McDowell Prize from the Folklore Society in 2008.Author location Kent, United Kingdom David Hunt LEGENDS OF THE CAUCASUS 978-0-86356-473-4 Literary Anthology/Myth & Legend Bic: DQ/FQ January 2012 Paperback Demy 350 pp Key sales points A unique collection, translated from Russian for the first time into English An important work of anthropology, anthologising legends from fourteen different ethnic groups in the Caucasus The translation is derived from collectors working out of the Russian Empire and latterly Soveit Union in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries undertaken A major reference of academic study, the stories will also delight the general reader New & Used
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What Reviewers Are Saying
'David Hunt's book has brought into the light some of the hidden treasures of the Caucasus, a region that has been largely unknown in the West except for its recent turmoil and wars. Hunt has given translations of a wide selection of folklore, representing every part of this complex and diverse region. He has given us tales of great wealth and variety, all in fluid prose. This is a major contribution not only to the study of the Caucasus, but also to world folklore.' John Colarusso, Professor Anthropology, and Linguistics and Languages, McMaster University, Canada 'The Caucasus is where European and Asian folklore both originate and interact: David Hunt's anthology is the first time that this remarkable world of pagan heroics and primeval myths has been opened to the English-speaking reader. The translations are both inventive and meticulous (sourced from Russian-language versions) in rendering the extraordinary folk poetry of the many nations of the Caucasus. Essential reading not only for folklorists, but for anyone seeking an insight into the cultures of the Caucasus.' Donald Rayfield, Queen Mary University of London 'A wonderfully rich collection ... A worthy contribution to our understanding of the Caucasus, and his introduction and glossary of deserving of particular praise.' --Andre Naffis-Sahely, Times Literary Supplement 'David Hunt's collection of legends allows a wider readership to come in contact with a rich, regional tradition of oral poetry.The book is a rich collection of folk poetry of a region long misunderstood as a space of feuds, bloody wars, and political unrest which could captivate not only academic readers.' The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 'Outstanding - an indispensable undertaking - Hunt's anthology is a major contribution to the study of the folklore of the Caucasus and a worthy continuation [to] Caucasian ethnography and folklore - Hunt [is] a gifted storyteller, able to represent in a fascinating manner a wide selection of captivating narratives coming from the ancient cultures of Caucasia.' Folklore