Leggende della terra

Text and illustrations by Claire Cock-Starkey

What and how many stories are linked to the land, its landscapes and creatures? In this book you will find the myths and legends related to particular places, sometimes fantastic sometimes real.

From thundering rivers to shady groves, from damp swamps to lightless caves, from snow-capped mountains to the depths of the ocean, discover the folklore of Earth’s wildest places. Stories and spirits abound in these land and seascapes, where traditional wisdom and mysterious tales have intertwined over the centuries. Each of the six chapters deals with a different natural landscape, revealing the worldwide folklore surrounding forests, seas and oceans, wetlands, mountains, rivers and streams, hills and caves.

Starting with tales from around the world, each chapter dives into legends about how these places were formed, their place in the collective imagination, and their natural and nonnatural inhabitants. Learn how forests hold up the sky in Māori lore; how in Ireland seaweed was thought to predict the weather; and that the ancient Greeks believed Mount Etna housed the fiery forge of the gods. All this and more is accompanied by beautiful drawings, revealing the secrets of our natural world as never before.

A treasure trove of fascinating stories and ancient wisdom, The Legends of the Earth is sure to ignite the imaginations of young nature lovers and delight all those who have wondered if there is more to our world than meets the eye.