Customer Reviews (1)

The Children's Homer Review
This review does not deal with the content of the book and is based solely on the printed version from publisher "General Books".

This version of the book is unreadable as it is full of typos and formatting mistakes based on the method that the publisher used to print the book.
They scan the book and use OCR software only.They do not go back and correct any parts that the OCR software failed to transfer properly.
I am returning this and buying another copy from a different publisher. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Typo City!
Directly from the inside of this book:"First we scanned the original rare book using a robot which automatically flipped and photographed each page.We automated the typing, proof reading and design of this book using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software on the scanned copy..."

They basically copied pages into a computer, the computer translated it, and whatever the computer thought was the word was what ended up on the page.What this means is that there are many typos. There are mistakes and extraneous letters/symbols all over the place. The end result is a book that appears to be disorganized, sloppy and confusing.The formatting of the book is horrible and it looks like the whole story is crammed into a long, long chapter.

Since I can't trust the words I'm reading to be the actual text of the book and not an OCR-related error, why bother reading this version of the book at all?

Perhaps I hadn't read the description carefully enough or correctly interpreted what it meant before purchasing it, but I am very disappointed.

Check out the product description before you buy 'The Children's Homer' published by Nabu Press
The Nabu Press imprint of this book was made available in April 2010 - all 28 earlier reviews of this book are from books from different publishers. For the record (read the Product Description carefully) Nabu Press created this book by scanning in an old version. The cover art gives you an idea of the editing that was done. Around zero. I've tracked down a few Nabu press books that people have actually bought and the reviews are mixed - usually based on the quality of the original book that was scanned to create their version.

Anyhow, Nabu Press specialise in copying and printing "copyright free" books and they're generally listed (like this one) at a much higher price than much better quality versions from genuine publishers who actually edit their books with care.

Lovely introduction to this epic tale for 2nd grader
My second grade son, who is very into all things "Star Wars the Clone Wars" and Legos (like most 8 year olds his age!) is really getting immersed in the tale of Telemachus and his search for information about what happened to his dad Odysseus.The narrative is beautifully written and engaging.It is not too literary for him but also does not over simplify the story.I also apprieciate the illustrations, they are a good intoduction to classical greek line work!I am reading it aloud and it has been a joy to share with him.

The Allen Kids Review
Our mom just finished reading The Children's Homer to us. It was interesting. The story is about people and adventures. We liked the part when someone sings a song about Odysseus building the horse. It's the children's homer and we think you should learn more about the journey of Odysseus. You will also learn about Achilles and some of the battles of Troy. We like that Odysseus was most wanting to get home to his family.
Ages 10, 8, and 7.

A delightful unabridged recording of a rich retelling
I can't imagine a better narrator for The Children's Homer than Robert Whitfield. His voice is so smooth, articulate, and warm. Colum's retelling of Homer is great for kids; this is my 5yo's favorite audiobook. Highly recommended as a stepping stone to more advanced retellings and eventually to Homer himself. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

A Truly Enthralling Read
THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS AND THE TALE OF TROY is a truly enthralling read. Padraic Colum is a natural story teller, with a gift for transporting readers into a magical land that includes all the magic and drama of The Odyssey and the Iliad, Achilles, Trojans, Scylla, Charybdis, Circe, and Cyclops. Powerful and heroic, this is truly a triumphant book. Colum's writing can be complex for young children, so some explanation and patience may be needed. However, the results will be well worth it.

Good story, poor reading
I picked up the book on CD hoping to find if it was something that would interest my kids. I am a fan of Homer and hoped to encourage my kids to enjoy his work as well.Listening to it myself, I did not enjoy listening to the reader.His attempts to read with emotion seemed very labored at times and forced.I loved the way the story is told but not this recording.It is a valuable story that I hope more will discover in the printed form perhaps.

this book was bad
This book goes into the hearts and minds of the ancient Greeks led by Odysseus and Achilles, who are guided by their gods. The Trojan War is brewing for the Greeks and thoughts of slaughtering their enemy, The Trojans are very strong. Can the Trojans survive? Will they all live to tell the tale of the Trojan War or will they all be killed?On both sides, it's life or death on their minds. Have you ever heard of the Trojan horse and the victory for Odysseus? This book includes the story of Odysseus and why his son set out to find his father. The journey of the ancient Greeks to the Trojan homeland is included. Will they return or will they lie in the blood stained desert of the Trojan homeland? The book also includes Odysseusis treacherous journey home past a six headed serpent and right across an evil king's door step. Will he survive?
Personally I didn't like the book at all. The way it was written it didn't really pull the reader in very well and the battle sequences are O.K. but not the best. Personally I don't really enjoy some types of myths and legends. I think if you are just about to branch out and read Greek myths you shouldn't read this book first because it really turns you off to Greek myths in general, so don't think all Greek myth's are like this.

I didn't like it
This book goes into the hearts and minds of the ancient Greeks led by Odysseus and Achilles, who are guided by their gods. The Trojan War is brewing for the Greeks and thoughts of slaughtering their enemy, The Trojans are very strong. Can the Trojans survive? Will they all live to tell the tale of the Trojan War or will they all be killed?On both sides, it's life or death on their minds. Have you ever heard of the Trojan horse and the victory for Odysseus? This book includes the story of Odysseus and why his son set out to find his father. The journey of the ancient Greeks to the Trojan homeland is included. Will they return or will they lie in the blood stained desert of the Trojan homeland? The book also includes Odysseusis treacherous journey home past a six headed serpent and right across an evil king's door step. Will he survive?
Personally I didn't like the book at all. The way it was written it didn't really pull the reader in very well and the battle sequences are O.K. but not the best. Personally I don't really enjoy some types of myths and legends. I think if you are just about to branch out and read Greek myths you shouldn't read this book first because it really turns you off to Greek myths in general, so don't think all Greek myth's are like this.


... Read more

Product Description

Enter a world where harpies torment mortals, the Argonaut Orpheus sings, the mighty god Zeus wages war on the Titans, and Prometheus steals fire. Author Padraic Colum weaves the tales of Jason and his Argonauts with classic Greek mythology to create this captivating epic about life, war, and astounding beings who lived in a time long past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A thrilled Mom
When I allowed my 9 year old to buy this book, I knew he only wanted it because of the cool 3-headed tiger on the front. Much to my delight, a few hours later he announced to me that this was the coolest book that has ever been written. He spent an entire weekend reading!! This is a child that previously had to be forced to read.
This is a great book for boys who have been unmotivated by the typical literature available. The plot is interesting and full of action. The material provides a nice introduction to ancient literature and mythology. It has also given us a good discussion point for history lessons.

Book goes to off topic.
I'm 12 and I thought that this book was ok except for one major problem.That problem is that they would be traveling and one would tell a completely unrelated story to another.Also there were some really boring parts.The book is decent but I wouldn't recremend it.

A true "theater of the mind" experience
The Golden Fleece by Padriac Column (1881-1972) is a complete and unabridged (10 hours, 8 compact discs) audiobook based on the classic Greek legend of Jason, the Argonauts, and their quest for the fabled Golden Fleece. A dramatic and spirited saga of an immortal legend, chronicling the exploits and soul-searing conflicts of mortals, monsters, and the gods themselves. Fred Williams's superb narrative skills brings Padriac Column's epic tale to live in a true "theater of the mind" experience while the compact disc format features tracks every 3 minutes for bookmarking. The Golden Fleece would make a perfect addition to any personal or community library audiobook collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A horribly edited book; look elsewhere for Colum's poems.
I was looking forward to reading Colum's poems again and was thrilled to see a collection available. When I got the book I was delighted to find out that my favorite poem "An Old woman of the Roads" was included. When I turned to the page, I realized that the last verse had been deleted. Did Sternlight think that it wasn't necessary?!

Look elsewhere for Colum's work, you can't entirely trust this title to be a true representation of his poetry. ... Read more

Product Description
"Unequaled" Rewriting of Homer for Children. Padraic Colum's retelling of Homer's classic epics for children is still considered by many to be the finest introduction younger readers will have to Homer. Combining the broad stories of both the Iliad and the Odyssey, Colum creates an intricately woven, fast paced tale that will enthrall children and adults alike. Publishers Weekly considered his rendition of Homer 'unequalled' and thousands of readers have agreed with that assessment. This edition includes Willy Pogany's classic illustrations created for the original 1918 edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A child's introduction to Homer.
Every parent should buy this book for their 8-13 year-old children. Originally published in 1918, it avoids the the excesses of modern-day political correctness while telling these exciting stories in beautiful and simple language. As a child I was so inspired by these tales that I went on to read both many times in full and in different translations. A "Must" for every parent who wants to inspire their children. ... Read more

Product Description
Geared toward young readers, this classic book centers on the Argonauts' quest for "The Golden Fleece". Generations have thrilled to compelling renditions of the adventures of heroic Jason and the sorceress Medea, mighty Heracles, the minstrel Orpheus, and other legendary figures from Greek mythology. Author Padraic Colum, who was a popular children's writer in his day, possessed a poetic style that enchant audiences of all ages, in "The Golden Fleece" and his other books as well. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

disappointing on the whole, but Colum/Pogany shine through
As is so often the case with works that endeavor to (yet again) popularize the Celtic mythosystem for readers more intimately familiar with "classical" Greco-Roman tales, this book misses the mark--by a goodly ways. It is fairly difficult to cull any notion of action and excitement (both of which the rear-cover blurb repeatedly hypes) from between the lines, and continuity is the last trait to emerge. Three stars (two and one-half, in all honesty) are yet merited because Colum--given the trashiest material--would still manage to weave a competent narrative that enmeshes the motifs within Alf Layla wa Layla-style "tale within a tale," while Pogany's spare, Beardsleyesque artwork is always a pleasure. Read it for historical interest and for the essential Colum and Pogany that manage to squeak through, but don't expect any great guns. Consult Anne Ross's "Druids, Gods, and Heroes" for a more facilely readable breakdown of the principal Celtic characters (specifically, the Tuatha de Danann and the Fenians) and story lines. And, whatever you do, avoid Squire and Rolleston and their centenarian ilk. ... Read more

Product Description
Noted Irish author’s selection of favorite tales from the Emerald Isle, brimming with sly humor, whimsy and imagination. "Fedelma, the Enchanter’s Daughter," "When the King of the Cats Came to King Connal’s Dominion," "The Town of the Red Castle," "The King of the Land of Mist," "The House of Crom Duv" and two more. Nine full-page illustrations and numerous decorations by Willy Pogány.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A non-stop delight, beginning to end!
What a joyful and engrossing book this is!An marvelous network of interlaced stories-within-stories keeps you on your toes, trying to keep it all in your head at one time.Each tale is a marvel of masterful storytelling in itself, but the relationships of the stories and characters to each other compounds the delight.Treat yourself to a unique experience - read this book.

very entertaining, but repetitive to the scholar
I immensely enjoyed the fine job Padraic Colum did of crafting these disparate tales into a rambling--yet consistently attention-riveting--"tale within a tale" in the Arabian Nights (e.g., Tale of the Hunchback) style. I am sure that people new to the genre will sit spellbound while the often humorous, always enchanting, adventures of the various characters play and interplay. I was a bit disappointed that many episodes were familiar to me from the folklore of other nations, and--given Colum's background and predilections--one wonders how much of that was accidental and how much, quite deliberate albeit (Colum may have presumed) safely beyond detection. For example, the Unique Tale is reminiscent of both the Grimm's story of the seven geese and the Norwegian tale of the twelve wild ducks (sans the sewing gaffe that leaves the youngest brother with one arm and one wing). The Churl's comeuppance is identical to a southern French tale about the clever servant, though--since the erstwhile denigrated youngest brother (Askeladde, as it were) outdoes his elder siblings, the tale could easily have hailed from Scandinavia. Next, during Flann's adventures with the giant Crom Dubh, I was all but certain that the episode would segue into the thrice-plus-thrice hiding contest, but I was let down when the king of Greece's daughter--on hand to coach our hero as the giant hid in the ring, the football, etc.--was nowhere to be found. (By the way, for the Prydain fan, the side tale of Gilly's origin smacks of extreme familarity anent one of Alexander's novellas--if not in the chronicles of Taran Pig-Keeper, then somewhere along those lines.) Names were also freely borrowed from other sources: Art (but where are Neart and Ceart?) and Aefa (Ler's wife: more commonly, Aeife) spring immediately to mind. Notwithstanding these picayune (if not sciolistic) criticisms--which would only be of concern to the folklore expert with encyclopedic recall and fingertip command of such nineteenth- and twentieth-century authorities as Asbjornsen, Burton, Glassie, Moe, O'Suilleabhain, Pourrat, and Thygesen-Blecher--the saga is extremely well done and a profound pleasure to adults and older children alike. Enjoy!

excellent book!
I read this book to my 8- and 4- year old sons and they were both enthralled.We've decided that it is the best book we've ever read, even compared with the Chronicles of Narnia or Half Magic.We're going to read once a year for probably the next five years!It's beautiful, thrilling, and even if you get lost among the many plot twists, it all comes back in the end, and the wandering is so enjoyable it doesn't matter.

A Story of a Story in a Story...
My, this tale wanders! But it always manages to stagger back, and within its digressions one gradually becomes aware that the characters have come to accept that their main business is to be about finding how their own story comes out.

If that sounds a bit like life itself, it isn't. It is, rather, the exuberant piling-on and folding-in of narratives by a master story-teller. In the end, evil is trumped and love triumphant, as we always knew it would be. But like those bards of old who earned their place nearest the fire by their hypnotic words and unflagging invention, Colum delights in the texture of the telling, and assumes that old bargain with his audience, where we come to the tale with an appetite for wonder and an ability to listen, and he builds those gorgeous stage-sets and animates them with his language.

I enjoyed this somewhat less than "Nordic Gods and Heroes"; although Willy Pogony does the illustrations here as well, they are not as powerfully evocative. Also, in that other book I felt I was learning something: it was a story, but it was also "official" myth. This is just a shaggy prince story that wanders confusingly. But, though not very educational, it was still a thoroughly entertaining ramble.

An adventure loved by both children and adults
Our child came home from school one day and excitedly announced that the teacher was reading to the class "the best story," The King of Ireland's Son, by Padraic Colum.After much hunting I finally found the book on Amazon.com. It is a beautifully crafted story full of rich images and detail. The charecters and environments come to life with a sophistication that children and adults both appreciate.My husband never used to like to read to our child at bedtime but now has taken over this role - because he loves reading The King of Ireland's Son. He says nightly after finishing a chapter, "this is such a great story!!" ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

compelling & classical storytelling for children
After seeing the campy movie "Jason and the Argonauts," my 7-year old son and I settled down into serious reading of the tale of quest for the Golden Fleece.Padraic Colum was a masterful storyteller--the Irish have that gift--and his language made the myths come alive with a power that kept my son riveted even when he wasn't quite sure what some of the words meant.It wasn't bad explaining to my son, for example, that provender is an old word for food.

There is an epic sense to the stories here--full of heroes giving speeches and saying noble things when they aren't fighting or engaged in heroic tasks.One of the learning points about the tale of the Argonauts' quest is that their story touches on other myths:that of the labors of Herakles (Hercules), of Orpheus in the Underworld, of Prometheus, of Theseus and the Minotaur, even of the future siege of Troy.So there ends up being a lot to talk about.

There are 30 or so illustrations throughout this 246-page text, which seems about right for kids at an age where they are willing to be read to from serious books without a picture on every page and can imagine the action themselves.

These Dover reprints of old classic editions are a bargain.

Christian parents--the Greek myths are excellent for contrasting the pagan gods with the God Whom we worship and serve, the pagan Greek idea of Death with the Christian knowledge of death, and so forth.After an evening's reading of a chapter, I'd tell my son, "Let's now pray to the True God," and he did so with greater enthusiasm than before.

Strongly recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

What a teachable-moment book!
We love the Beskow books -- for both boys and girls.This one is particularly good as Peter and Lottie "borrow" Mr. Blue's boat and lose an oar.Taking responsibility for their actions, they work to buy a new oar.This is a great story for teaching the habit of responsibility, owning up to our mistakes and forgiveness.

uncle blue's new boat
This is a fabulous children's book. The quality of the binding and pictures is not top-notch but still worth its price! ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Truly Enthralling Read
THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS AND THE TALE OF TROY is a truly enthralling read. Padraic Colum is a natural story teller, with a gift for transporting readers into a magical land that includes all the magic and drama of The Odyssey and the Iliad, Achilles, Trojans, Scylla, Charybdis, Circe, and Cyclops. Powerful and heroic, this is truly a triumphant book. Colum's writing can be complex for young children, so some explanation and patience may be needed. However, the results will be well worth it.

Good story, poor reading
I picked up the book on CD hoping to find if it was something that would interest my kids. I am a fan of Homer and hoped to encourage my kids to enjoy his work as well.Listening to it myself, I did not enjoy listening to the reader.His attempts to read with emotion seemed very labored at times and forced.I loved the way the story is told but not this recording.It is a valuable story that I hope more will discover in the printed form perhaps.

this book was bad
This book goes into the hearts and minds of the ancient Greeks led by Odysseus and Achilles, who are guided by their gods. The Trojan War is brewing for the Greeks and thoughts of slaughtering their enemy, The Trojans are very strong. Can the Trojans survive? Will they all live to tell the tale of the Trojan War or will they all be killed?On both sides, it's life or death on their minds. Have you ever heard of the Trojan horse and the victory for Odysseus? This book includes the story of Odysseus and why his son set out to find his father. The journey of the ancient Greeks to the Trojan homeland is included. Will they return or will they lie in the blood stained desert of the Trojan homeland? The book also includes Odysseusis treacherous journey home past a six headed serpent and right across an evil king's door step. Will he survive?
Personally I didn't like the book at all. The way it was written it didn't really pull the reader in very well and the battle sequences are O.K. but not the best. Personally I don't really enjoy some types of myths and legends. I think if you are just about to branch out and read Greek myths you shouldn't read this book first because it really turns you off to Greek myths in general, so don't think all Greek myth's are like this.

I didn't like it
This book goes into the hearts and minds of the ancient Greeks led by Odysseus and Achilles, who are guided by their gods. The Trojan War is brewing for the Greeks and thoughts of slaughtering their enemy, The Trojans are very strong. Can the Trojans survive? Will they all live to tell the tale of the Trojan War or will they all be killed?On both sides, it's life or death on their minds. Have you ever heard of the Trojan horse and the victory for Odysseus? This book includes the story of Odysseus and why his son set out to find his father. The journey of the ancient Greeks to the Trojan homeland is included. Will they return or will they lie in the blood stained desert of the Trojan homeland? The book also includes Odysseusis treacherous journey home past a six headed serpent and right across an evil king's door step. Will he survive?
Personally I didn't like the book at all. The way it was written it didn't really pull the reader in very well and the battle sequences are O.K. but not the best. Personally I don't really enjoy some types of myths and legends. I think if you are just about to branch out and read Greek myths you shouldn't read this book first because it really turns you off to Greek myths in general, so don't think all Greek myth's are like this.


... Read more

Product Description
Padraic Colum (1881-1972) was an Irish poet, novelist, dramatist, biographer and collector of folklore. He was one of the leading figures of the Celtic Revival. At the age of seventeen, he passed an exam for and was awarded a clerkship in the Irish Railway Clearing House. He stayed in this job until 1903. During this period, Colum started to write and met a number of the leading Irish writers of the time. His earliest published poems appeared in The United Irishman. His first book, Wild Earth (1907) collected many of these poems. In 1911 he founded the short-lived literary journal The Irish Review. In 1914, Colum travelled to the USA where he took up children's writing and published a number of collections of stories for children, beginning with The King of Ireland's Son (1916). In 1922 he started writing novels. Amongst his other works are Three Plays (1916), The Boy Who Knew What the Birds Said (1918), The Children of Odin: The Book of Northern Myths (1920) and The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles (1921). ... Read more

Product Description
Rich selection of age-old legends concerning the gods and goddesses who dwell in Asgard, their problems with the mischievous Loki, the exploits of Odin and Thor, the story of Sigurd, the winning of Brynhild, the twilight of the gods and more. Enhanced with over 40 atmospheric illustrations by Willy Pogany.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

great stories and illustrations
This book is a fun read. Very interesting stories about Nordic gods and heroes. The illustrations are also very neat! great buy!

Enjoyable Myth
Collum provides an interesting, concise and yet highly readable introduction to Nordic myth.The author links one chapter into another, and yet many of these chapters can stand alone.I own a number of books involving Norse myths and I find this is one of my favorites.The language is so straight-forward that a 5th grader could understand it, but i didn't feel like the author was dumbing-it-down.Enjoy!

Excellent Intro, Not Necessarily "Right"
I thought that this was a well-written story, and an excellent introduction to the mythology of the Norse Gods.The story is enjoyable from cover to cover, and at certain points, it is very hard to put down.

Basically, the author takes the disjointed and sometimes backwards poems of the Poetic Edda, found a unifying theme and a linear story, and runs with it.This gives an interesting, although somewhat false account of what "really happened" according to the ancient text.The cause-and-effect relationship between the events of this book may not be quite what the original authors intended, and thus, there is a bit of bending the rules.

Overall, however, this book should be commended for providing a more readable account of Norse Mythology for those who want a story more than a collection of poems.I thought that the shorter episodes would make a great collection of bedtime stories for a young child, and the whole book is an excellent book for preteens to learn about the myths.Don't let that fool you into thinking this is a kid's book, however, as this is really fun for all ages.

Excellent retelling !
This Dover edition is superior the Alladin Publication of "The Children of Odin"simply because it contains the original artwork, albeit in black and white.This a bare bones retelling of Nordic and Teutonic tales - Part 4 is devoted to the Ring of the Nibelungs.Keep in mind that the audience for this book is children and young adults, but is an excellent place to start.

Why Amazon chooses to sell both publications together is beyond my ken.

Buy the Dover edition if only for the artwork !

Be prepared for some archaic language : "dost", "spake", "knowst", etc.

interesting to say the least
This particular book is great for studying up on Nordic mythology or simply just reading for the enjoyment of it. The reading is strait forward but all of the names of people, places, and things can be a bit confusing because you read them once in the biggining of the book, along with many other long and strange names and don't come across them until many pages later, which causes you to look back and try and see what or who that thing was. But other than that, it is a very satisfying read and is strongly recommended as a good introduction for anyone who wishes to learn about the ancient Norse culture. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is the perfect introduction to The Iliad and The Odyssey, two of the cornerstones of Western literature. All of the glories of Homer's world--from the mysterious Wooden Horse to Helen, whose beauty launched a thousand ships, to the fearsome one-eyed Cyclops--are here, refashioned into one seamless tale of adventure by three-time Newbery Honor winner Padraic Colum. Beautifully enhanced by Barry Moser's twelve bold, evocative color plates, this handsome book will stir the imagination of young and old alike. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Great collection of myths.
The reason that I'm writing this review is because there was nothing in Amazon to tell me how good this book really was.I was looking for a book that worked as an introduction to a wide variety of myths from around the world.And I must say this is a great collection of myths selected and retold by Padraic Colum.

After a brief introduction to mythology around the world, comes the myths. These 59 myths are organized by region: Egyptian(2), Babylonian(4), Persian(1), Jewish(2), Greek(8), Roman(4), Greco-Roman(1), Celtic(5), Finnish(1), Icelandic(7), Indian(6), Chinese(2), Japanese(2), Polynesian(4), Peruvian(2), Central American(6), and Zuni(2).

This book has the Nordic and Babylonians myths I wanted, and at least the Mayan myth: "The Twin Heroes and The Lords of Xibalba".It also has some Celtics myths, but my knowledge in Celtic mythology is limited.I can not attest for the accuracy or authenticity of the myths in this book, but at least I can say the ones I have read matches those in my second choice, Parallel Myths.

In all, I like this book a lot, and Padraic Colum retelling style in particular.So much that I'm actively hunting for others books of his such as Nordic Gods and Heroes. ... Read more

Product Description
Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Authentically Irish
Padraic Colum's wonderful compendium of all things Irish was my first introduction to my Irish Heritage.I could not have found a better.Under one cover, Colum draws from Irish history, folklore, myth, song and legend to introduce the reader, in a mere 613 pages, to the best of authentic Ireland.
First printed in 1944, this volume captures an Ireland that has long since faded into memory.Today, there are no more clay cottages roofed in thatch, except, perhaps, for the tourists.The Shenache (Irish storyteller) has largely been replaced by the television and the internet.But, before the incursions of electric entertainments, Column preserved that Ireland for us with great charm and energy.
Colum begins by describing what he calls the "Irish Edge," that bit of bite in the humor that is typically Irish:If ...[those girls] were hanged for their beauty, they'd die innocent."Or this:"A man who has a face that looks like somebody threw it at him in anger always marries before he's old enough to vote."
The Editor then takes the reader through a tour of Irish myth, which may or may not be history, the Heroes of Old, then into recorded history, Irish customs, ways and traditions, and into the New World with the wit and wisdom of the Irish Americans.
The collection of Irish stories is, by itself, worth the price of the book.
In short, if you want an introduction to the Irish character, what makes the Irish what they are, you can do far worse than this volume of authentic Irish Folklore by perhaps one of the last of the great Shenaches, Padraic Colum.

greatest collection of Irish folklore information out there
Whether you are Irish by blood, or just wish you were, A Treasury of Irish Folklore is the book for you. Everything from Irish myths, superstitions, and even songs of Ireland are included. From blessings, to spells, this book is chocked full of info, ready for you to crack the cover. Check it out, I promise you, you won't be dissappointed ... Read more