Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780195086799)

The first anthology of Jewish mythology in English, Tree of Souls reveals a mythical tradition as rich and as fascinating as any in the world. Drawing from the Bible, the Pseudepigrapha, the Talmud and Midrash, the kabbalistic literature, medieval folklore, Hasidic texts, and oral lore collected in the modern era, Schwartz has gathered together nearly 700 of the key Jewish myths. The myths themselves are marvelous. We read of Adams diamond and the Land of Eretz (where it is always dark), the fall of Lucifer and the quarrel of the sun and the moon, the Treasury of Souls and the Divine Chariot. We discover new tales about the great figures of the Hebrew Bible, from Adam to Moses; stories about God's Bride, the Shekhinah, and the evil temptress, Lilith; plus many tales about angels and demons, spirits and vampires, giant beasts and the Golem. Equally important, Schwartz provides a wealth of additional information. For each myth, he includes extensive commentary, revealing the source of the myth and explaining how it relates to other Jewish myths as well as to world literature (for instance, comparing Eves release of evil into the world with Pandoras). For ease of use, Schwartz divides the volume into ten books, Myths of God, Myths of Creation, Myths of Heaven, Myths of Hell, Myths of the Holy Word, Myths of the Holy Time, Myths of the Holy People, Myths of the Holy Land, Myths of Exile, and Myths of the Messiah.

Author: Howard Schwartz
ISBN-10: 0195086791
ISBN-13: 9780195086799
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Language: English
Published: 11/01/2004
Pages: 704
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 3.17lbs
Size: 10.14h x 7.46w x 2.02d
Award: National Jewish Book Award - Winner

Review Citation(s):
Choice 04/01/2005 pg. 1418
Multicultural Review 06/01/2005 pg. 89
Library Journal 09/01/2004 pg. 160
Booklist 10/01/2004 pg. 306