Free eBook: Don't Know Much About Mythology by Kenneth C. Davis

Don't Know Much About Mythology by Kenneth C. Davis is currently free in ebook format, for a short time only. Publishers Weekly gave this one a starred review so it is worth picking up for FREE, I think. I'm not sure how long the discount will last, so snap it up quick! I did since I didn't own it and hope to have time to peruse it someday....

Book description:

The latest installment in the New York Times bestselling Don't Know Much About® series -- a magical journey into the timeless world of mythologyIt has been fifteen years since Kenneth C. Davis first dazzled audiences with his instant classic Don't Know Much About® History, vividly bringing the past to life and proving that Americans don't hate history, they just hate the dull, textbook version they were fed in school. With humor, wit, and a knack for storytelling, Davis has been bringing readers of all ages up to speed on history, geography, and science ever since. Now, in the classic traditions of Edith Hamilton and Joseph Campbell, he turns his talents to the world of myth.Where do we come from? Why do stars shine and the seasons change? What is evil? Since the beginning of time, people have answered such questions by crafting imaginative stories that have served as religion, science, philosophy, and popular literature. In his irreverent and popular question-and-answer style, Davis introduces and explains the great myths of the world, as well as the works of literature that have made them famous. In a single volume, he tackles Mesopotamia's Gilgamesh, the first hero in world mythology; Achilles and the Trojan War; Stonehenge and the Druids; Thor, the Nordic god of thunder; Chinese oracle bones; the use of peyote in ancient Native American rites; and the dramatic life and times of the man who would be Buddha.Ever familiar and instructive, Davis shows why the ancient tales of gods and heroes -- from Mount Olympus to Machu Picchu, from ancient Rome to the icy land of the Norse -- continue to speak to us today, in our movies, art, language, and music. For mythology novices and buffs alike, and for anyone who loves a good story, Don't Know Much About® Mythology is a lively and insightful look into the greatest stories ever told.

France Month: Le petit chaperon rouge ou la petite fille aux habits de fer blanc

Le petit chaperon rouge ou la petite fille aux habits de fer blanc by Jean-Jacques Fdida (Auteur), Jean-Louis Lejonc (Illustrations)  Here is a Little Red Riding Hiding promoted as a version that predates Perrault. The details are not in the description, but the illustrations are certainly provocative.

I found some of the extra images I borrowed here at this blog.

Book description:

Quel chemin vas-tu prendre ? Le chemin des aiguilles ou le chemin des épingles ? L’éternelle histoire d’une fille à la croisée des chemins… Loin des versions édulcorées diffusées depuis Perrault, voici un petit chaperon rouge authentique et savoureux. Les motifs disparus au fil du temps, le cannibalisme et l'art de la sédutcion, sont réintroduits par l'auteur, désireux de réstituer la force du conte d'avant Perrault. Dans une langue savoureuse et musicale, empruntant au vieux français, on relit cette histoire de toujours avec un plaisir mêlé d'étonnment. Une édition inédite et raffinée, sublimée par les images mystérieuses de Régis Lejonc. Avec une préface de Bernadette Bricout.

France Month: Peau d'Ane by Charles Perrault (Auteur), Anne Romby (Illustrateur & Auteur)

Peau d'Ane by Charles Perrault (Auteur), Anne Romby (Illustrateur & Auteur) is the picture book I bought for myself when I traveled to France in 2008. I bought the book in a little children's toy store in Arles, actually, near where Van Gogh lived and painted for a while. So I look at this book and have fond memories, including carrying it around for the rest of the day as we tried to explore Arles but were frustrated almost every stop by site closures.

Needless to say, this is one of my favorite illustrated versions of the tale which is why I bought it and carried it around southern France for a day. There are at least twice as many illustrations as you will see here, but this is enough to give you a grand taste of the book as well as see some of my favorites.

These scans of the images are not my own, but came from another site, a children's book illustration blog.

Book description:

Pour échapper à son père qui a décidé de l’épouser, une jeune princesse se sauve et devient « Peau d’Âne », une pauvre servante. La reprise du très célèbre conte qui retrouve une nouvelle jeunesse grâce à de superbes illustrations.

Grimm Legacies 2012: Tentative Schedule

Grimm Legacies, the fairy tale symposium at Harvard next month, has posted its tentative schedule which I am posting below. If you look closely, you will see that I am on the schedule. Yes, I am attending and I am presenting, eschewing the relative anonymity of an audience member,* after accepting Maria Tatar's kind invitation. She has also allotted an hour for my presentation so if you plan to attend and have any input into what you would like to hear, please let me know. For now, I plan for my focus to be on SurLaLune as well as fairy tales in a technological world. The Grimms, too, will be mentioned more than once.

Of course, the other presenters are a great draw and my own reason for attending. I want to hear their presentations! So without further ado, here's the list to tempt you:

Truthfully, I find so many of you know me when I do get to attend these events, that anonymity doesn't really happen anyway! Name tags remove the mystery. And I wear hats. I do it to myself. So please do introduce yourself, chat with me, and we will all revel in this fairy tale weekend!

ABC's Once Upon a Time Returns Tonight

It's January 8th and the midseason hiatus for ABC's Upon a Time ends tonight. Above is a clip of the first 8 minutes of the new episode which has been blitzing in the media coverage along with many, many spoilers. Spoilers that ultimately say we are going to learn more about the characters in upcoming episodes. (I am really tempted to type "Duh" here, but would that be aging myself as well as too snarky? Excuse me, I've been sick for two weeks with three ailments and I am snarky right now!)

I debated sharing some of the articles, but I decided not to. They are everywhere on the web and some of them may even be true. For now, I intend to keep watching the show, enjoying the ride along the way. Overall, I am enjoying when the writers use the non-Disney versions of characters which seems to give them all more depth.

However, I obviously couldn't resist the tantalizing images that have also been creeping up everywhere for some future episodes. See what I mean though about the characters? Aren't Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel much more compelling than the Halloweenish Cinderella we were treated to a few months ago? That costume was horrible...

And I can't praise ABC highly enough for really backing this show. The publicity is fierce. The marathon of episodes last weekend was a rarity on the big networks and even the support materials are growing, yes, in the name of marketing and commerce, but that is what it's all about anyway. If we get to be entertained along the way, it's a solid product.

(Forgive the snarkiness. Don't doubt I will be watching OUAT tonight or tomorrow at the latest. I admit Downton Abbey 2 may take precedence since I have a date to watch that with family tonight.)

France Month: La belle au bois dormant par Charles Perrault (Auteur), Olivier Desvaux (Illustrateur)

La belle au bois dormant par Charles Perrault (Auteur), Olivier Desvaux (Illustrateur) is a beautiful book with the much longer Perrault version of the story after the kiss--I almost bought this one when I was in France last year, but settled for a Beauty and the Beast instead which I have yet to share. I always have to buy one or two fairy tale related mementos, usually books, when I visit France.

Book description:

Ce grand classique des contes de fées est présenté ici dans sa version longue. Les aventures de la belle ne s’arrêtent pas au baiser du prince charmant qui la libère de son sommeil enchanté : après son mariage, elle va devoir affronter la mère du prince, une ogresse féroce qui ne rêve que d’avaler sa bru et ses petits-enfants…

'Maleficent’ Finds a Director

I hadn't noticed much news about this one recently, but hadn't forgotten. Apparently it is still under consideration. Excerpted from ‘Maleficent’ Finds a Director in Production Designer and VFX Supervisor Robert Stromberg by Angie Han:

Over the past two years, Disney’s Sleeping Beauty retelling Maleficent has attracted the attention of several high-profile directors. Tim Burton was the first one attached to the project, back when it was first announced, and Darren Aronofsky, David O. Russell, and Guillermo del Toro are among the other names who’ve been rumored or who have expressed interest in the film.

The man who’s actually landed the job, however, is somewhat lesser known. Disney has tapped visual effects supervisor and production designer Robert Stromberg to helm the film, which will mark his directorial debut.

Scripted by Alice in Wonderland scribe Linda Woolverton, Maleficent follows the Sleeping Beauty tale from the villainess’ point of view. [Angelina Jolie] has been attached to star as the self-titled “Mistress of All Evil” since 2010. Maleficent falls neatly into the revisionist fairy tale trend that’s hot in Hollywood at the moment, along with such movies as Snow White and the Huntsman, Mirror, Mirror, and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.