Bigfoot to Mothman: A Global Encyclopedia of Legendary Beasts and Monsters

(Hardback)

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Description

This one-volume encyclopedia introduces readers to the world's cryptidsthose hidden or secret animals believed to exist at the margins of human societyincluding Bigfoot, Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Mothman. Comprehensive in its scope, this book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to know more about well-known creatures of myth and legend, such as the Chupacabra and the Jersey Devil, and discover lesser-known animals, such as the Bunyip of Australia and the Mamlambo of South Africa. Rather than purport to prove or deny the existence of these creatures, however, this volume classifies them within their respective cultural, historical, and social contexts, allowing readers to appreciate cryptids as cultural artifacts important to societies around the globe. Finally, this book goes beyond the study of the unknown to investigate who believes in cryptids, why they do, and why the study of cryptozoology is as much about understanding cryptids as it is about understanding ourselves.

Author Bio

Margo DeMello is assistant professor in the anthrozoology program at Carroll College in Helena, MT, USA.