Folk Tales & Fiction
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IS BN 978-974-8495-96-5
WL Order Code 21 668
US$18.00
Bangkok 1994, 197 pp., illus., 148 x 210
mm, pbk. |
Choden, Kunzang; Folktales of Bhutan
This first attempt of a Bhutanese to record in English the oral tradition of
this kingdom comprises a collection of 38 folktales and legends.
The rugged
and awesome terrain of Bhutan, which cherished a self-imposed isolation for
centuries, and the people’s closeness to nature, together with their philosophy
of karmic life cycles, an unquestioning belief in unseen co-inhabitants of the
earth-like spirits, ghosts and demons, and the creative genius of the storytellers
culminated in a remarkable repository of tales and legends which were passed
on and developed through generations. |
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IS BN 978-974-8496-87-0
WL Order Code 21 947
US$21.00
Bangkok 1997, 165 pp., 23 pp. illus., 150 x
210 mm, pbk.
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Choden, Kunzang; Bhutanese Tales of the Yeti
A Collection of twenty-two stories set in four different regions of Bhutan. Belief
in the yeti is ubiquitous in the Kingdoms of the Himalayas, where beliefs and
attitudes related to it go beyond scientific judgment and analysis.
The Bhutanese
consider the yeti, or the migoi, to be an essential part of the backdrop of their
existence.
Believed to possess supernatural powers enabling it to become invisible
at will, the yeti often manifests itself in a tangible form and then suddenly
vanishes, leaving behind nothing but an unexpected void.
Folklore about the
abominable snowman has existed for centuries: however, with the far-reaching
impact of the media, the perpetuation of this oral tradition is threatened.
This
collection of stories is an attempt to document a vital tradition before it is wiped
out entirely. |
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IS BN 978-974-8496-94-8
WL Order Code 21 937
US$18.00
Bangkok 1997, 139 pp., 150 x 210 mm, pbk.
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Fielding-Hall, Harold; Burmese Palace Tales
Originally published in 1900 as Palace Tales the book is an attempt to rescue
from oblivion one phase of life in the Mandalay Palace in the times of the Burmese
Kings.
The Burmese King and Queen were sent into exile in India by the
British occupation force in 1886 and memories of the old days started to fade.
These stories are all founded upon tales told to the author.
They are not history
nor are they intended to apply to any one king or queen.
They are illustrations
only of the lighter side of life there, of the amusements and the trivialities of
the Palace.
They are the little sunny places in the record of a semi-civilized
court whose more serious history consisted of plot and intrigue, violence and
murder.
But there was laughter in the palace as well as sorrow, sunshine as well
as tears.
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IS BN 978-974-7534-31-3
WL Order Code 22 165
US$16.00
Bangkok 2000, 153 pp., 13 pp. illus., l50 x
210 mm, pbk.
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Fleeson, Katherine Nelson; Laos Folklore of Northern Siam
This book was originally published in 1899 when the northern and northeastern
parts of present-day Thailand were still called Laos.
This changed when
Prince Damrong created the Thai nation state as well as a Thai identity. Hence,
the French were only able to lay claim to the territory on the left bank of the
Mekong.
These folktales were part of the oral cultural tradition before the
author, a missionary, undertook to preserve this cultural heritage, by recording
many aspects of rural life in northern Siam.
For the German speaking readers
with a sense for political satire
of the 1950’s a reprint of this
classic series, volume 1 and 2 so
far in a small limited edition
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IS BN 978-974-7534-71-9
WL Order Code 22 226
US$23.00
Bangkok 2001, 478 pp., 8 pp. col. illus., 11
pp. maps + charts, 150 x 210 mm, pbk.
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Ivanoff, Jacques; Rings of Coral: Moken Folktales
This is the first compilation of the oral literature of the Moken, the sea gypsies
of the Andaman Sea.
Virtually unknown to scholars, except for a few collected
in 1838 by Hugo Barnetzik, the stories presented here, of a total of 100,
were specially revealed by the Moken to Jacques Ivanoff, the foremost scholar
on the Moken, who has here retold and analyzed them.
The stories deal with
the Mokens’ historical roots, the creation of Moken society and its flourishing;
folk tales, myths and spirit songs.
These stories are essential to understand the
Moken society and its survival until now, in an ecological and cultural niche.
Additional stories recorded by observers are also listed. |
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IS BN 978-974-480-039-8
WL Order Code 22 353
US$13.00
Bangkok 2003, 305 pp., 130 x 200 mm,
pbk.
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Leonard, Spots; Thailand Stories
This is a magical novel that transcends time and place. It whisks the reader
away on a soft tropical breeze, across cultures, down white sand beaches and
through bars where fantasy and reality melt together.
A wondrous adventure. ” A cleverly crafted weave . . . the style is quite special, evocative. . . a good
read. . .” “Insightful . . . witty and wise.” Whether relaxing on a sun drenched
beach or in your easy chair at home, Thailand Stories are sure to please. |
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IS BN 978-974-480-015-2
WL Order Code 22 308
US$18.00
Bangkok, 2002, 182 pp., 8 pp. color illus.,
150 x 210 mm, pbk.
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Lewis, Paul W. and Bai Bibo; 51 Hani Stories
The first comprehensive overview of oral literature of the Hani ethnic group
of China in English translation. Some 1.3 million people, called Hani, live
in Yunnan Province, in the extreme Southwest of China.
They speak a language
which is in the Lolo-Burmese subgroup of the Tibeto-Burman family
of languages.
Roughly ten percent of these Hani call themselves Akha and
speak a related dialect, but are considered as Hani by the People’s Republic
of China.
The stories here are taken from the Doinia (Luchun) dialect of
Hani, as spoken in the Luchun and Honghe area.
The Hani people love to
tell stories.
These are told for purposes of entertainment, encouragement and
enlightenment. |
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IS BN 978-974-480-018-3
WL Order Code 22 307
US$16.00
Bangkok 2002, 98 pp., illus., 4 pp. color
illus., 150 x 210 mm, pbk.
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Pun, Angela and Paul W. Lewis ; 49 Lahu Stories
This work presents the first comprehensive overview of oral literature of the
Lahu ethnic group in English.
Today there are approx. 600, 000 Lahu living
in four nations: Yunnan (China), eastern Burma, northern Laos and northern
Thailand.
Their language is in the Yi (Lolo) branch of the Tibeto-Burman
family of languages. The 49 Lahu stories presented in this book are translated
from the 1939 Lahu Reader—Lahu Ka Pui Ka Lao, long out of print.
These
stories were collected and written down by the Reverend Ai Pun (Saya Ai Pun),
himself a masterful storyteller, who was also very concerned about the production
of good Lahu literature.
His inspiration, dedication and wonderful sense of
humor shine forth in this book. |
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IS BN 978-974-7534-65-8
WL Order Code 22 228
US$13.00
Bangkok 2001, 112 pp., 150 x 210 mm, pbk.
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Saw Wai Lwin Moe; Golden Boy and Other Stories from Burma
This collection presents 27 folktales, fables and legends told by Burmese to
their children.
The magic of legends, the wisdom contained in ancient tales
and the humor of fables captivate young and old alike.
Besides providing good
entertainment these stories reveal a lot about the daily life of the people who
told them, about their inner-most beliefs and the eternal values of a people.
What could be a better way to the heart of a culture than its ancient tales? We
invite you to follow the path of the Burmese people. |
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IS BN 978-974-480-029-9
WL Order Code 22 323
US$21.00
Bangkok 2003, 394 pp., 25 pp. illus., 150 x
220 mm, pbk.
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Velder, Christian & Katrin; The Rice Birds: Folktales from Thailand
This book presents stories of adventurous humans, bloodsucking demons, and
righteous gods.
The tales introduce readers to strange rituals, mysterious visitations,
and magic incantations.
They offer explanations for many animal traits,
for natural disasters, and for the origin of various Thai proverbs.
Based on an
ancient oral tradition. the tales deal with such archetypal themes as the helpful
talking animal, paradise lost and regained, and the struggle between good and
evil.
Among more than fifty illustrations are depictions of a peculiar tiger-eating
monster, a scheming water demon, and two lovely princesses with elephant
noses.
Also portrayed are the Fairy of Good Fortune; Phra Phrom, a Thai deity
with four faces; and even the Buddha on his visits to earth. |
038-239-883-4 