Free Tales From Japan (Oxford Myths And Legends) Ebooks Online
Full of magic and wonder, these are tales of wicked giants and fairy children, beautiful princesses and fearless warriors. This extraordinary collection of stories from Japan are lively retellings of legends and fairy tales that include the great story of the creation of the world and the tale of a magical coat that makes people invisible. Meet the Sea Spirit, the Moon God, the Emperor Kiyomori, Dragon Princess and many other magical characters. Here, too, are folktales of woodcutters and fisherman who enter strange, enchanted worlds. This delightful mix of stories joyfully evokes the beauty and culture of Japan: its people, its animals, and its landscape. (Reissue of Japanese Tales and Legends, 0-19-274140-3)
Series: Oxford Myths and Legends
Paperback: 158 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; Reprint edition (April 4, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0192751751
ISBN-13: 978-0192751751
Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 0.6 x 5 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #778,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #211 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Other #440 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Anthologies #1104 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Chapter Books & Readers > Intermediate Readers
Age Range: 9 - 12 years
Grade Level: 4 - 7
Oxford has chosen to reissue as Tales from Japan (Oxford Myths and Legends) what appear to be selections taken from the 1958 Japanese Tales and Legends. The stories are well-written and I think they would be an enjoyable way to introduce someone to Japanese tales.PROBLEMS--------------------Purists may cringe at liberties taken by the authors, though. For example, the foundation myth for Japan in the first part of the book comes from the 8th century Kojiki, and because it is a convoluted story, it certainly needed to be adapted for a general audience. However, the addition of a single "Lord of Heaven" to the narrative does a disservice to the reader by making it sound too much like the Old Testament. Much of the content is conveyed clearly and accurately, so it seems odd to me that they would make such questionable changes.SUMMARY--------------------If you are not terribly concerned with adaptations, and you want to get a sense of what traditional Japanese tales are like, then you'll enjoy this purchase. It would be particularly suitable for reading with children (some of the sections might require an adult's help to understand). I don't know of any other collection of Japanese tales that are appropriate for such a wide audience (children to adults).SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING--------------------Readers who want to go more deeply into the traditional tales would enjoy the following excellent translations:(1)
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