Popular Stories of Ancient Egypt

(Hardback)

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Description

This anthology of ancient Egyptian tales, features stories which are considered to be the oldest in the world. The tales shed light on the origins of literature in general and folklore in particular, and illuminate the intersection of oral and literary traditions. Many of the ancient stories explore the same issues and concerns that are encountered in modern life-love, family ties, fidelity and infidelity, destiny, political and military alliances, heroic nationalism, and seafaring adventures.

Reviews

"[S]tories are accompanied by extensive footnotes ... making the texts comprehensible to modern readers ... Popular Stories of Ancient Egypt is recommended for all libraries." - Library Journal "[L]ibraries supporting extensive programs in this area of study will want to acquire this volume because of its explanatory footnotes, its historical significance, and El-Shamy's folkloristic approach to the tales. Upper-division undergraduates and above." - Choice "Folklorists, and anyone with even the most casual interest in things Egyptian, will welcome this republication ... presents the nucleas of a substanial, properly analyzed literature of Egyptian folklore in English." - Journal of American Folklore

Author Bio

Hasan El-Shamy is professor of folklore, Near Eastern languages and cultures, and African studies at the University of Indiana, Bloomington, IN.