Best Selling Books by Neil Philip

Whether it''s the creation of the world, the fertility of the land, or a history of its people, each culture has its own mythology: a collection of stories that explain the world as it relates to them and that has been passed down through the generati

This is a visual approach to explaining and elaborating upon many of the world''s most interesting myths and legends. From the Hindu stories about Rama and his family to the Aboriginal myth of The Rainbow Snake, the book focuses on tales and characters from cultures around the world. Each story is illustrated with a beautiful work of art, while the large format allows the reader to examine every annotated section close-up.

This is a golden treasury of over one hundred English folktales captured in the form they were first collected in past centuries. Read these classic tales as they would have been told when storytelling was a living art – when the audience believed in boggarts and hobgoblins, local witches and will-o’-the-wisps, ghosts and giants, cunning foxes and royal frogs. Find “Jack the Giantkiller”, “Tom Tit Tot” and other quintessentially English favourites, alongside interesting borrowings, such as an English version of the Grimms’ “Little Snow White” – as well as bedtime frighteners, including “Captain Murderer”, as told to Charles Dickens by his childhood nurse. Neil Philip has provided a full introduction and source notes on each story that illustrate each tale’s journey from mouth to page, and what has happened to them on the way. These tales rank among the finest English short stories of all time in their richness of metaphor and plot and their great verbal dash and daring.

Explores the long history of the Native American tribes of North America, discussing their culture, their struggles against white immigrants, and the recent resurgence of their customs. American history with a difference, this is a lively and authoritative history of the Native American nations, from pre-Columbian times to the reclaiming of traditions that is taking place today. Neil Philip explores Native American ideas about land and society, religion, science, and history, and shows how the differences between these and the ideas of the whites resulted in the sad catalog of misunderstandings and betrayals in treaty talks and settlements. It is also a tale of resilience and renewal, including a positive assessment of Native American cultures as they enter the new millennium. Spoken and written accounts by Native Americans are drawn on extensively, and the volume will be illustrated with archival photographs.

Contains twenty versions of the fairy tale Cinderella, demonstrating the development and transmission of the tale throughout the centuries.

This small treasure of a prayer book includes 58 short, accessible selections from all over the world, divided into thematic sections and richly illustrated. Prayers of the great world religions mix with tribal chants, folk rhymes, and poems of praise and devotion to celebrate morning and evening, the beauty of the natural world, loving, giving, and grace. Together the selections convey a strong sense of the intrinsic kinship of all humanity. Isabelle Brent"s opulent illustrations, with glowing gold highlights and illuminated initials, were inspired by the art in medieval Books of Hours. This unique and joyous collection will appeal to a wide range of readers; the small size and ribbon marker make it a perfect gift, just right for private meditation. Introduction, acknowledgments.

Presents a collection of Native American mythology from various tribes including their different perspectives on how the earth was started and how it will end.

From the ancient Greeks to the Aztecs, people across the world have created a rich tapestry of stories, characters, and beliefs to explain the mysteries of creation and the forces of nature and death. Mythology of the World examines both ancient and contemporary cultures and explores their unique myths and legends, carrying every myth across centuries to today''s readers. Mythology of the World''s sparkling, readable text covers more than fifty myths from Europe, Asia, America, Africa, Australia, and Oceania. It includes a directory of gods, humans, monsters, and animals.

A collection of poems about bathtime, by such authors as Aileen Fisher, Martin Gardner, Caryl Brahms, and John Drinkwater.

Publisher Description

This beautifully presented book offers a stimulating approach to the timeless, universal stories that are central to every culture. More than 50 compelling myths and legends from around the world are explained through stunning works of art and ancient artefacts, each supported by informative text and comprehensive annotation. Presented country by country, the book offers a fascinating guide to the amazing characters of world mythology and to the cultures that created them. The fantastic world of fables and sagas this book discusses will delight enthusiasts and general readers alike.

More than 50 myths and legends from around the world are explained and illustrated through works of art.

Myths are the greatest stories ever told. Passed down over millennia, the great myths are the templates for all our stories, with their eternal themes of creation and destruction, fate and cunning, heroism and cruelty, sensuality and war. Retold here are nearly 200 myths--from Prometheus defying Zeus to create man, to the destruction of Troy; from the reign of the sun god Ra in Egypt to the one-eyed, raven-flanked Odin of the icy North; and from valiant battles against Frost Giants and Cyclopes, to the heroic quests for the Golden Fleece and the Holy Grail--all accompanied by commentaries on their origins, common themes, and meanings. Compellingly written, concise, and with each myth illustrated with an iconic image, Myths in Minutes is the perfect way to understand and enjoy the world''s great fables.

Here''s a treat for young Mother Goose fans who are ready for something new. With the lively lilt of nursery rhymes and an abundance of silliness, these poems introduce the naughty girl who threw a bun at the teacher, the fellow who eats all his meals upside down, and the king and queen who can''t agree on anything at all--to mention just a few of the quirky characters who frolic through these pages. Short, catchy verses, collected here in picture book form for the first time, will delight readers and listeners with their gentle absurdity. Katja Bandlow''s illustrations depict the silly folk with whimsy and good cheer. Christopher Corker, Lanky Lawrence, and their eccentric friends deserve a place next to Jack Sprat and Peter Pumpkin Eater on every nursery bookshelf!

Recounts the life and adventures of Robin Hood, who, with his band of followers, lived in Sherwood Forest as an outlaw dedicated to fighting tyranny. Illustrated notes throughout the text explain the historical background of the story.

Originally told to explain the mysteries of the world—such as creation, divine will, fertility, death, and love—myths are a major part of many cultures throughout the world, and each area has its own myths. Organized by geographic region, each myth is placed within the civilization’s history and context. The key elements of world mythology, such as the hero, his divine connection, the labyrinth, the initiation, and the transformation,are explored in boxes and features throughout the book. Philip Wilkinson has more than 50 titles to his credit in the fields of mythology, history, and the arts, including DK’s Illustrated Dictionaries of Mythology and Religions. Neil Philip is the author of many books on folklore and mythology, including The Illustrated Book of Myths and Myths and Legends Explained. Synopses of the great myths that have inspired human creativity from antiquity to the present Covers mythology around the globe, from the classic Greek to lesser known Malaysian Catalogs of gods by subject enable comparisons of distant civilizations

Explore the Norse myths in exciting retellings, with context notes, evoked in bold, eloquent illustrations.

Explores the sexual politics of prostitution, by calling on evidence from prostitutes, clients and reformers from the last three centuries. The author''s other books include A Fine Anger, Between Earth and Sky and The Cinderella Story.