Description: This authoritative work, based on extensive field study and research, combines a wealth of Polynesian myths and legends with a lively commentary on the lives and culture of the Polynesians. The territory covered is the vast Pacific triangle formed by the Hawaiian Islands to the north, New Zealand to the south, and Easter Island to the east. Included are Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, the Marquesas, and many other island groups. From these varying Polynesian cultures, ethnologist Johannes C. Andersen collected ancient stories of the gods and creation, of nature and the supernatural, of love and war, of adultery, revenge, cannibalism, human sacrifice, and more. As he recounts the tales, he compares and contrasts not only the legends but also the people of one island group with another, interweaving fascinating information about Polynesian history and customs. The author s descriptions of the Polynesians and their ways are as interesting as the stories themselves. Noting that there are great variations of general characteristics among Polynesian peoples, he observes that the finest physique was found among the Marquesans; the most estimable people were found among the Samoans; the most poetical and gentle among the Tahitians; the most religious and romantic among the Hawaiians; the most intellectual, and the most formidable warriors and military strategists among the Maori. Over 75 illustrations effigies of the war god Kukailimoku, the great stone status of Easter Island, a Maori boy and girl, Polynesian canoes, a Samoan round house, and many more add superb visual interest to these fascinating stories of Uenuku the Maori chief, Pele the Fire Goddess, Eleio and the feather cloak of Hawaii, and a host of others. An extensive 42-page index and glossary of Polynesian-related terms will be of great help to those making a study of Polynesian culture. This book looks deceptively aged due to the color palette, but it is in excellent condition.
Price: 10 USD
Location: Auburn, Maine
End Time: 2025-02-14T08:00:01.000Z
Shipping Cost: 4 USD
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Item Specifics
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Personalize: No
Type: Novel
Signed: No
Ex Libris: No
Narrative Type: Fiction
Personalized: No
Original Language: English
Intended Audience: Young Adults, Adults
Inscribed: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Vintage: No
Book Title: Myths and Legends of the Polynesians
Item Length: 8.5in
Item Height: 1.1in
Item Width: 5.4in
Author: Johannes C. Andersen
Format: Trade Paperback
Language: English
Topic: Australian & Oceanian, Folklore & Mythology, History
Publisher: Dover Publications, Incorporated
Publication Year: 2011
Genre: Religion, Literary Collections, Social Science
Item Weight: 22.1 Oz
Number of Pages: 576 Pages
