New Releases by Shahrukh Husain

Nyla gazes out of the window at the vast night sky from her cozy cot. She dreams of flying up to the moon, just like the magical creatures she reads about in her books. What if, just maybe, she could do it too? Could there be a tiny chance that her dream might come true?

Delicious and dangerous, this collection of fairy tales is a glorious tribute to women with ''do what thou wilt'' bravado - those who dare to wear the breeches. They shed their female garb (and modesty) and don the male''s role to save king, country, kin, and their own lives or for revenge, love, power and a good time. Shahrukh Husain''s tales from around the world - riddles, battle triumphs, bawdy and moving stories - prove that no heroine, or hero, is as exciting and daring as the irresitible cross-dresser of fairy tales.

Beware the women who are called witches, or those who claim the name for themselves... Banshees - a howling night-witch and harbinger of death; She-devils - Lilith and her daughters; or Bitches - Hecate, whose chariot is drawn by dogs. Alluring women, enchantresses, seekers of revenge, wise old women and badly-behaved girls. As Shahrukh Husain says, witches are ''womanhood in all its complexity''. Over fifty stories of crones and nixies, shape shifters and beauties are here, including the loving fox witch of Japan; Italy''s Witch-Bea-Witch; Scotland''s Goodwife of Laggan; Biddy Earl and the terrifying Kali and Baba Yaga who comes in many forms to haunt, entice, possess, transform and challenge. From every corner of the globe, with tom-foolery, fun, strife and victory, these folklore and legends celebrate women who step out of line.

Evil Women. Every culture has them. Religions have banned and branded them. Men find them terrifying and fascinating. Women secretly admire them. An eye cast over the impressive if frightening array of characters reveals baby-thief Lamia, a fertile deity from Greek mythology with a serpent''s tail who seduced mortals and bred beautiful monster-children; Morgan le Fay, fairy sister to King Arthur, who according to Celtic legend tried to wrest the throne from him using her black magic powers; Medea who wreaked terrible revenge on Jason when he left her for a younger woman; Lilith, Eve, the Queen of Sheba, Delilah, Jezebel, Kali - all wicked women whose names have been with us for centuries as demons and sirens and troublemakers.

Presents myths and legends from ancient civilizations around the world, including tales from Egypt, Greece, Rome, India, Scandinavia, and Africa.

This series brings together captivating stories from ancient civilisations. The stories are simply told, whilst retaining the flavour of the original myths, and are illustrated by artists specially commissioned to portray key visual features from the culture the story originated in.

Written for children both in primary and secondary education, this volume is part of a series that explores the stories and myths of ancient civilisations. It features a collection of Viking stories and myths.

History.

When Salek sets out to find out about the Prophet of Islam, he has no idea what awaits him— Why did his father leave him to follow a man he did not know? On his journey to seek the answer to this question and to know more about Muhammad, Salek meets many strangers on the way. Strangers who embrace him and tell him stories about the Muhammad they love and have faith in. Through their stories, Salek gets to know and love the man who valued truth, equality, kindness, and justice above all. This is an unusual collection of stories about the life of Prophet Muhammad— about the harsh deserts that were his home, the battles he fought, the choices he was faced with, and the path he chose. Seen through the eyes of a young boy, these tales of faith and discovery make for gripping reading.

In a small town somewhere in the Middle East lived Mulla Nasruddin. Mulla Nasruddin was famous for being a bit odd. He reacted to the follies of his fellow men and to the challenges of daily life - be it catching a runaway basket or celebrating the birth of a pot - in a manner that people found strange. But most wise men agreed that beneath the apparent foolishness of Mulla Nasruddin was a keen perception that cut straight to the truth. This collection of twenty-five tales contains all the fun and wisdom that makes the stories of Mulla Nasruddin so widely read and well loved.

The nine stories in this collection are taken from the rich tradition of African legend, and feature themes ranging from creation to the afterlife, from the natural world to magic and the supernatural, and from gods and heroes to monster and ogers. Fast-paced, yet clearly and lyrically told, these myths offer the reader a fascinating glimpse into African cultures both past and present, from the Yoruba peoples of Nigeria the Mbundu peoples of Angola to the Shona clans of Zimbabwe. Book jacket.

Aimed at readers at Key Stages 2 & 3, this volume contains an illustrated collection of retold myths from the Indian tradition.

From the dawn of the human race, the idea of a Mother Goddess has been an archetype found in every culture and every era--and this fascinating study explores all of her many faces and multitude of roles

An impressive and varied collection of erotic myths and legends from the ancient world retold for today''s modern audience.

A dozen tales on women in history who dressed like men to achieve their goal, be it to gain power or save their men. The stories span the centuries and are set all over the world.

Surveys the history, places of worship, legends, traditions, and art and architecture of the holy Muslim city.