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Serpent, Siren, Maelstrom & Myth

Sea Stories and Folktales from Around the World
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( 34 ratings, 11 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Serpent, Siren, Maelstrom & Myth by Gerry Smyth is a captivating dive into the world of maritime mythology intertwined with historical events. Set against the backdrop of turbulent seas, the novel explores the interplay between human ambition and nature's mysterious forces. Gerry Smyth brings to life an era where legendary creatures intertwine with the struggles and triumphs of seafaring lives.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy historical fiction that explores the interplay of mythological and maritime themes, bringing to life a vividly imagined past. Gerry Smyth's storytelling delivers a unique blend of adventure and legend, perfect for readers who love tales of the sea intertwined with mythical elements.

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Gerry Smyth has gathered together myths and folktales from cultures around the world Native American, Caribbean, Polynesian, Persian, Indian, Scandinavian and European.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The sea is beautiful and alluring, but it is also dangerous and deadly. Above all, it is unknowable and untameable. Storytelling offered our ancestors a means to understand and interact with the natural world, and in time these stories coalesced into the mythological systems of the world. The ocean features in every mythological system in history.

To reflect and explore this, Gerry Smyth has gathered together myths and folktales from cultures around the world including Native American, Caribbean, Polynesian, Persian, Indian, Scandinavian, and European. Just as these stories have been passed down through generations, he brings his own narrative interpretation with additional discussion on their meaning.

Stories in Serpent, Siren, Maelstrom & Myth are divided into seven sections: Origin Stories; Gods and Humans; Voyages; Lost Places, Imagined Spaces; Weather and Nature; Down to the Sea in Ships; Fabulous Beasts. The book is embellished with illustrations from the wide-ranging collections of the Library.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Serpent, Siren, Maelstrom & Myth by Gerry Smyth has received praise for its rich historical detail and engaging storytelling. Readers appreciate its complex characters and the way it intricately weaves myth with historical themes. The novel is noted for its vivid descriptions and atmospheric setting, which captures the imagination and transports readers to another time.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780712354196

Publisher: British Library Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 05 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: British Library Publishing

Illustration: 250+ Colour Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Gerry Smyth is an academic, musician, actor and playwright and is Professor of Irish Cultural History at Liverpool John Moores University. He is the author of the bestselling Sailor Song: The Shanties and Ballads of the High Seas, published in 2021.

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