On the Verge of Lunacy

Most of the studies on folklore focus on European literature. But just as rich are Asian tales of deities, monsters and heroes. Let’s take a look at some of these. The most well-known are the Epic of Gilgamesh which has two versions in Sumerian and Akkadian; Mahabharata by Veda Vyasa; the Persian epic Shahnameh by Ferdowsi; and Ramayana by Valmiki. Ramayana has different versions in the region including the Burmese version Yama Zatdaw, the Malay Hikayat Seri Rama, the Javanese Kakawin Ramayana and the Cambodian version Reamker. To document all the epics of Asia would fill a book. I’ve picked some examples from each country below. The Book of Dede Korkut is an epic of the Oghuz Turks or Turkomans. It is made up of twelve legends. The first story is about Boghach Khan, while the twelfth narrates the rebellion of the Outer Oghuz. Dede Korkut is supposed to be the narrator of these tales. The Epic of King Gesar , is the epic cycle of the culture hero Gesar of the k...

When the Grimm brothers collected legends and folktales, their intention was to revive the interest in folklore and its study. Some of these stories however are popularized by the media for the younger audience today. Fans of these adaptations as well as readers interested in folklore will find this book valuable. Several of the stories in this volume might be familiar to readers who have read legends and stories from the region where Grimm brothers lived. I recommend this classic not only for those who want to read the "original" (this can be argued) versions of the popular stories but also to readers who are into folklore and legends. Rating: 10 out of 10 The Brothers Grimm The following are the stories included in this volume (in order): The Golden Bird Hans in Luck Jorinda and Jorindel The Travelling Musicians Old Sultan The Straw, The Coal, and The Bean Briar Rose The Dog and the Sparrow The Twelve Dancing Princesses The Fisherman and his Wife ...