West African Folktales by Berry, Jack

West African Folktales (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780810109933)

Vendor: Jack Berry
Product type: Books
Format: Paperback
$24.95
$24.95
$24.95
Subtotal: $24.95
West African Folktales by Berry, Jack

West African Folktales

$24.95
West African Folktales by Berry, Jack

West African Folktales

$24.95
Format: Paperback
Description
Description
x
These 123 tales reflect the rich oral tradition of West African folklore. Playful and sly, they teem with talking animals and shape-shifting tricksters, with pacts and promises made and broken, and with impossible deeds done through chicanery and magic. These tales deal with themes common throughout West Africa and the world. Indeed, American readers will recognize such characters as Brer Rabbit and the "tar baby," which had their roots in the folklore of this region. Because there is no overlay of Western values, however, some of the morals may surprise the unsuspecting reader--murder and polygamy, cannibalism and cunning, witchcraft and revenge spin matter-of-factly throughout the stories.

Author: Jack Berry
ISBN-10: 081010993X
ISBN-13: 9780810109933
Publisher: Northwestern University Press
Language: English
Published: 10/01/1991
Pages: 229
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.97h x 5.97w x 0.72d

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 09/13/1991
By Jack Berry
By Jack Berry
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JACK BERRY was born in Leeds, England, on December 13, 1918. He obtained his BA in Classics at the University of Leeds in 1939 and his PhD in Comparative Linguistics at the University of London in 1952. Berry taught at the University of London from 1946 to 1963 when he came to the United States. Berry accepted an appointment at Northwestern University in 1964 as professor of African Languages and Linguistics. He held this position until his death on December 4, 1980. At Northwestern Berry served as the director of the Program of Oriental and African Languages. In 1970 and 1971 he held visiting professorships at the University of Ghana and the University of the West Indies.

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