Folktales of the Amazon

Here are forty-one tales gathered from Amazonian fishermen, hunters, lodgers, small plot farm gardeners, and villagers in Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. Organized thematically, these tales for mature readers convey messages of kinship bonds and reciprocity, capturing the socialized relationships between peoples, animals, plants, places and a variety of shape-shifting supernatural entities. Often shocking or hair-raising, some of these tales even range into illicit topics, such as cannibalism and psychotropic plants. Illustrations, historical background, a map, glossary, and story notes enhance the collection. A great resource for folklorists, upper-level educators, anthropologists and storytellers (especially those looking for "scary stories" or tales with environmental themes), this book can be used as supplementary reading in college level courses on Amazonian culture and literature.