Sharon Barcan Elswit's Books

The Jewish Story Finder

A Guide to 668 Tales Listing Subjects and Sources, 2d ed.

By: Sharon Barcan Elswit

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The Jewish Story Finder

A Guide to 668 Tales Listing Subjects and Sources, 2d ed.

By: Sharon Barcan Elswit

Storytelling, as oral tradition and in writing, has long played a central role in Jewish society. Family, educators, and clergy employ stories to transmit Jewish culture, traditions, and values. This comprehensive bibliography identifies 668 Jewish folktales by title and subject, summarizing plot lines for easy access to the right story for any occasion. Some centuries old and others freshly imagined, the tales include animal fables, supernatural yarns, and anecdotes for festivals and holidays. Themes include justice, community, cause and effect, and mitzvahs, or good deeds. This second edition nearly doubles the number of stories and expands the guide's global reach, with new pieces from Turkey, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, and Chile. Subject cross-references and a glossary complete the volume, a living tool for understanding the ever-evolving world of Jewish folklore.

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Page Count

413

Publisher

McFarland

Published Date

ISBN 10

0786448237

ISBN 13

9780786448234

The Caribbean Story Finder

A Guide to 438 Tales from 24 Nations and Territories, Listing Subjects and Sources

By: Sharon Barcan Elswit

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The Caribbean Story Finder

A Guide to 438 Tales from 24 Nations and Territories, Listing Subjects and Sources

By: Sharon Barcan Elswit

The Caribbean islands have a vibrant oral folklore. In Jamaica, the clever spider Anansi, who outsmarts stronger animals, is a symbol of triumph by the weak over the powerful. The fables of the foolish Juan Bobo, who tries to bring milk home in a burlap bag, illustrate facets of traditional Puerto Rican life. Conflict over status, identity and power is a recurring theme--in a story from Trinidad, a young bull, raised by his mother in secret, challenges his tyrannical father who has killed all the other males in the herd. One in a series of folklore reference guides by the author, this volume shares summaries of 438 tales--some in danger of disappearing--retold in English and Creole from West African, European, and slave indigenous cultures in 24 countries and territories. Tales are grouped in themed sections with a detailed subject index and extensive links to online sources.

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Page Count

317

Publisher

McFarland

Published Date

ISBN 10

1476630011

ISBN 13

9781476630014

The Latin American Story Finder

A Guide to 470 Tales from Mexico, Central America and South America, Listing Subjects and Sources

By: Sharon Barcan Elswit

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The Latin American Story Finder

A Guide to 470 Tales from Mexico, Central America and South America, Listing Subjects and Sources

By: Sharon Barcan Elswit

Anything is possible in the world of Latin American folklore, where Aunt Misery can trap Death in a pear tree; Amazonian dolphins lure young girls to their underwater city; and the Feathered Snake brings the first musicians to Earth. One in a series of folklore reference guides ("...an invaluable resource..."--School Library Journal), this book features summaries and sources of 470 tales told in Mexico, Central America and South America, a region underrepresented in collections of world folklore. The volume sends users to the best stories retold in English from the Inca, Maya, and Aztec civilizations, Spanish and Portuguese missionaries and colonists, African slave cultures, indentured servants from India, and more than 75 indigenous tribes from 21 countries. The tales are grouped into themed sections with a detailed subject index.

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