Jamaica Anansi Stories

Description

Jamaica Anansi Stories is a book by American folklorist Martha Warren Beckwith, and was first published in 1924. It includes folklore (including animal stories, modern stories and old stories), transcriptions of folk music, and a large collection of riddles, all cross-referenced with folklore studies from other cultures. The trickster Anansi, originally a West African spider-god, features in these tales. He is the spirit of rebellion who is able to overturn the social order; he can marry the Kings' daughter, create wealth out of thin air; baffle the Devil and cheat Death. Even if Anansi loses in one story, you know that he will overcome in the next. The author did extensive research in the folklore of Hawaii and Jamaica, and was the first person to hold a chair in Folklore at any college or university in the United States.

This book has 102,749 words, 185 pages in the PDF version, and was originally published in 1924.

Production notes: This ebook of Jamaica Anansi Stories was published by Global Grey in 2021, and updated on the 19th January 2024. The artwork used for the cover is 'Jamaican Shoreline' by Mary Emily Eaton.