Myths and Legends for a Greener World - by Rosalind Kerven (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A captivating collection of stories, retold by master folklorist Rosalind Kerven, offering a new perspective on the climate breakdown that threatens our modern world.

Inspired by traditional myths and folklore from across the world and retold with integrity and respect, the stories in this collection offer a hopeful perspective on how we can better appreciate the natural environment and the species that share our planet. The book is split into five chapters: "In the Beginning," "The World in Trouble," "Respect the Earth," "Our Animal Relations," and "World Without End."

Among these fascinating tales are a retelling of the Rainbow Serpent myth from Benin, a Chinese story of dragons that help control the climate, a spiritual tale about a desert stream from Tunisia, a Canadian First Nations story about the coexistence of humans and bears, and a Norse legend about rebirth in springtime. Each story is accompanied by carefully researched notes, detailing the cultural and historical background and other related tales. The perfect antidote to climate anxiety, this book harnesses time-honored wisdom to help imagine how we can transcend environmental degradation and species loss to offer a more harmonious vision of our life on earth.

About the Author

Rosalind Kerven is a narrative folklorist and the author of over seventy books published in twenty-two countries. She specializes in world myths, legends, and folktales and is on a mission to bring these wonderful old stories back to life for modern readers. Kerven, named "connoisseur of myths and folk tales" by The Independent, authored English Fairy Tales and Legends (yeartk), Viking Myths & Sagas (yeartk), Faeries, Elves & Goblins (yeartk), and Arthurian Legends (yeartk). She lives in the Northumberland National Park.