Custom and Myth (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781432613891)

Custom and Myth is a collection of essays written by Scottish author Andrew Lang, originally published in 1884. The book explores the origins and significance of various customs and myths from around the world, ranging from ancient Greece and Rome to the indigenous peoples of North America and Africa. Lang draws on his extensive knowledge of folklore and mythology to examine the cultural and historical contexts in which these customs and myths arose, and to shed light on their enduring appeal and relevance. Among the topics covered in the book are the origins of the Christmas holiday, the legend of King Arthur, the symbolism of the swastika, and the role of the trickster figure in various mythologies. Lang's writing is engaging and accessible, making Custom and Myth an enjoyable and enlightening read for anyone interested in folklore, mythology, or cultural history.1885. While best known for his translations of classical literature and as a collector of folk and fairy tales, Lang also wrote poetry, biographies, histories, novels, literary criticisms and even children's books. Lang was one of the first to apply anthropological findings to the study of myth and folklore. His versatility was also shown in his valuable works on folklore and on primitive religion. The earliest of these works was Custom and Myth. Contents: The Method of Folklore; the Bull-Roarer; The Myth of Cronus; Cupid, Psyche, and the Sun-Frog; A Far-Travelled Tale; Apollo and the Mouse; Star Myths; Moly and Mandragora; The Kalevala; The Divining Rod; Hottentot Mythology; Fetichism and the Infinite; The Early History of the Family; and The Art of Savages. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Author: Andrew Lang
ISBN-10: 1432613898
ISBN-13: 9781432613891
Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
Language: English
Published: 03/19/2004
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.41lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.88d