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Imaginary Animals
The Monstrous, the Wondrous and the Human
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Imaginary Animals
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See moreA beautifully history of imaginary animals from Palaeolithic art to Harry Potter.
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
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Description
Tales throughout the world generally place fabulous beasts in marginal locations – deserts, deep woods, remote islands, glaciers, ocean depths, mountain peaks, caves, swamps, heavenly bodies and alternate universes. Legends tell us that imaginary animals belong to a primordial time, before we had encompassed the world with names, categories and scientific knowledge.
Imaginary Animals by Boria Sax traces the history of imaginary animals from Palaeolithic art to the Harry Potter stories, and beyond. It shows how imagined creatures help us psychologically, giving form to our subconscious fears as 'monsters', as well as embodying our hopes as 'wonders'. Nevertheless, their greatest service may be to continually challenge our imaginations, directing us beyond the limitations of our conventional beliefs and expectations.
'Shows how mermaids and dragons, even superheroes and Tamagochis, help us measure what it means to be human. A well illustrated and philosophically sophisticated book.' - World of Interiors
'A thought-provoking analysis of bestial creations...Recommended.' - Choice
'Intriguing and thought-provoking...Scholarly and well-researched, without being either ponderous or condescending, it is written with real wit, and with a contagious delight in its subject rare in such a study. I would recommend it enthusiastically.' - Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn
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?
Imaginary Animals by Boria Sax explores how mythical creatures embody human fears and aspirations, with influences from cultural icons like Hieronymus Bosch and PT Barnum. The book is praised for its philosophical depth and diverse range of references, from ancient cave art to modern robotics, providing a multifaceted look at humanity's relationship with fantasy animals. Readers appreciate its scholarly yet engaging writing style, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in the symbolic roles animals play across different cultures and epochs.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781789145458
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 01 August 2022
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Reaktion Books
Illustration: 194 illustrations, 100 in colour
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 190.0mm
Height: 250.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 278
Collections
About the Author
Boria Sax teaches at Sing Sing prison and online in the graduate literature program at Mercy College. He has published many books including City of Ravens (2012), Imaginary Animals (Reaktion, 2013) and Dinomania (Reaktion, 2019).
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