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THE MYTHIC BESTIARY The Illustrated Guide to the World’s Most Fantastical Creatures Tony Allan A wonderful collection of the most extraordinary creatures of the human imagination—from terrifying vampires and wereanimals to sinister shapeshifters and fabulous dragons From the beginning, people have believed in the mysterious and the supernatural. Mythologies from around the world include stories of strange and terrifying creatures, including the unicorn, the wendigo of the Algonquin people, The Celtic banshee, trolls, ogres, and the fantastic dragons revered and feared by both Western and Eastern cultures. With stunning artwork and a wealth of enchanting tales, The Mythic Bestiary casts light on these shadowy creatures, displaying them in all their beauty and ferocity. Though these monsters are obviously fiction (…or are they?), only a century or two ago belief in monsters was commonplace. Even today, a record number (estimated at 19%) believe in the existence of these otherworldly beings. Sightings of monsters are commonplace and celebrated in our popular culture. The Mythic Bestiary is organized into three parts – the beasts of the air, those of the earth and those of the aquatic realms. Coverage includes the monsters and hybrids of the classical world, the myriad serpents and dragons of both East and West, the malevolent ogres and trolls of Scandinavia, and the elusive cannibals, shape‐shifters and ape‐people of the dense forests of North America and Eurasia. As well as describing the classic appearance of each beast, there are numerous references to contemporary incarnations in film and literature. Indispensable for all those drawn to the beasts of myth and legend, The Mythic Bestiary brings these compelling creatures thrillingly to life. ABOUT THE AUTHOR After studying history at Oxford University, Tony Allan was for many years a writer and editor with Time‐Life Books, serving as Series Editor of the TimeLife History of the World and working as an author and consultant on Myth and Mankind, a twenty‐volume study of comparative mythology. He is the author of Vikings, Ancient Rome, The Archaeology of the Afterlife, and The Symbol Detective.
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A SAMPLE OF CREATURES FROM THE MYTHIC BESTIARY: • There was no sight that gladdened the heart of a Chinese emperor more than a
fenghuang, but few ever got to see one. Fenghuangs were propitious, appearing only in times of prosperity and peace.
• Lamia, the half‐woman, half‐snake with a cannibalistic appetite for eating other women’s children, and the ability to replace her own eyes at will.
• Faeries, known for stealing mortal babies from their cradles, left changelings behind—fairy infants that were often wizened or deformed with special powers.
• The cluricauns, party loving leprechauns, usually found drunk in rich men’s wine cellars or riding on the back of sheep.
• The Leviathan, the water‐born dragon of the sea, who according to the Old Testament will be killed by the Lord in the endtime.
• The Yukkionna of Japanese culture, beautiful and serene‐‐and a ruthless killer of unsuspecting mortals.
• The Squonk of the Pennsylvania wild who evades capture by dissolving completely into a pool of tears and bubbles when cornered.
• The Grendel, the antagonist of the epic poem Beowulf, a source of debate for scholars, such as JRR Tolkien and Seamus Haney.
• The Mothman creature of West Virginia‐‐a winged man‐sized creature with large reflective red eyes and large moth‐like wing.
SAMPLE PAGE LAYOUTS FROM THE MYTHIC BESTIARY:
The Mythic Bestiary Materia Monstrum
The Illustrated Guide to the World’s Most Fantastical Creatures
Tony Allen
Duncan Baird, an imprint of Sterling Publishing
Sale date: October 7, 2008
192 pp ISBN: 1‐84483‐484‐6
ISBN13: 9781844837199 $29.95 US $32.95 CAN
Hardcover with jacket • 11” x 8 ½ ” 130 gsm matte art paper
More than 60 large artworks in 4‐color and 30 line artworks,
plus approximately 10 photographs in 4‐color
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