The Book of Fabulous Beasts: A Treasury of Writings from Ancient Times to the Present
Basilisks, griffins, and mermaids inhabit this ambitious collection of representative writings about mythical creatures that, according to the original context, may or may not exist. Nigg, the author of several books on imaginary animals, has arranged this source book chronologically and divided it into four parts roughly corresponding to the classical, medieval, Renaissance, and modern periods of Western history, each prefaced by a brief introduction. From Homer's sirens to James Thurber's unicorn, over 100 writers, both familiar and obscure, contribute to the literary histories of beasts. Although similar to Malcolm South's Mythical and Fabulous Creatures (LJ 6/15/87), Nigg's book is more comprehensive, focusing on primary sources?poems, travelers' tales, the Bible, and fiction?rather than on scholarly essays. The glossary, index, and cross references to particular beasts add to the accessibility of this recommended work.?Cathy Sabol, Northern Virginia Community Coll., ManassasCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.