The Forest in Folklore and Mythology

It's pretty good at delivering what is advertises, a book ABOUT stories and myths of the forest, not a book OF stories of the forest (meaning, stories are briefly summarized). It's an old, old book, republished recently, so it's written in dense sentence structure (meaning you can't speed read it), citation is just when the author felt like it.Oddly, the book reads like a series of papers about topics regarding the forest, there's no overall introduction, conclusion, or thesis, it's just an info dump. Even the individual chapters don't have introductions and conclusions, they just cover info regarding the chapter's topic, then just end. But, if you want to hear about interesting forest stories and about historical customs and traditions of forest worship throughout the world, it's a good book. The scant citation really did irk me though, but at the time it was written that was more acceptable.

Many short myths. Often only a paragraph long. I love the overview and summary of previous traditions. I really do not appreciate the statements that old cultures must have thought or believed or practiced certain things. That it is obvious that the progression followed certain preconceived patterns. I think that it is the common assumption that today's culture is better than cultures that lived in harmony with nature. Perhaps it is the assumption that ancient cultures did not understand nature or the physical laws or patterns that governed their world. A wonderful book IF the author had believed in the subject.

I'm a little annoyed at the reviews that state that this work is dry and boring. This book was thrilling to read. It's filled with myth and lore from around the globe and historical references to forests and trees and how they were venerated, feared, idolized in ages past. The author has arranged his information in a way that links his references very cohesively and I know I'm going to be reading this book again and again. Highly recommended!

Scholarly book about the lore of the forest in history. If you collect stories about folklore and/or superstitions, this book has lots of information. It can be rather dry and some information seems to be repeated but this is due to the overlapping of cultures and beliefs. It is a good book to read in small doses. In regard to violence/sexual content, if a tale consists of these elements, then it can be said to have a sprinkling of sex and violence in it but there is certainly nothing salacious about this book lol. I doubt young adults would be interested in this book in general due to it being rather like a text book. I enjoyed it though.

If you enjoy the myths and folk-tales ,surrounding the lore of trees,then i would like to recommend this arboral classic to you.The problem that some readers may have with the book is the erudite and dated style of the book.Yet,that's the type of book ,i like.There's another difficulty with the book,in a global context.It being written some eighty years ago,it leaves out Native-american,Latin-american,Asian and African myths and tree legends .Completely catering to a European-american audience only.So,keeping that in mind,is really helpful before hand.Nevertheless,it's a wealth of 'enthnodendrography' ,that will entertain and educate all scholars of the 'Dendro-Mythos'.

Sweet lord is this book dated. It has some good uses but most of it was written by an imperialist Englishman who seems to think if it didn’t help create England it’s silly fantasy.

Very informative with lots of interesting aspects relative to the subject. I'm happy to have found a book which condenses this mythological concept.

All kinds of stuff on forests and trees from various folklore, religion and mythology sources from cultures all over the world. Read this and go for a long walk in the woods alone at night and I doubt you won't believe there is something magic and spiritually alive in the forest.

I bought this book based on the reviews that i read and felt compelled to leave a review...something very rare for me.For the layman this book is, practically unreadable, especially for the first 3-4 chapters. The author seems to be obliged to include EVERY possible historical mention...however fleeting.. of every woodland, grove, fairy or superstition associated with woodlands throughout the world. Whilst this would be ideal for a reference source book, it created a staccato style with no story being "fleshed out" so that you are left thinking "AND....." or even "So what...."Admittedly the book did improve a little in chapter 5 (Mythical Denizens of the Forests and Woods).....bearing in mind that the book only has 9! chapters. But even here I felt that other authors whether historians or mythologists would have made these myths more detailed and alive....I am neither uneducated nor particularly fanciful but I felt drowned in a sea of bytes of information and felt that I had learned nothing from this book and remembered even less!!! ;).Certainly this IS an erudite tome....and, therein, lies it's worth and it's criticism. It is DRY and DULL. A subject that should be, could have been, fascinating and evocative by losing 75% of the references where little is known or, indeed, written ...perhaps removing them to a passing footnote or appendices......and making the rest of the folklore come alive for the reader???Therefore this book would be great if you were planning to use it as a reference source for your PhD.....but, for the average person with a passing interest in learning more about...say..Woodland Mythology and Forest Folklorein Europe or England or Scandinavia.....I suggest something else

I love this book. The depth of research of the author of this book, originally published in 1928, is truly impressive. Not dissimilar in purpose to Sir James Frazer in 'The Golden Bough', this author explores trees and forests from the perspective of mythology, folklore and religion as an anthropological study. It would appeal to animists, spiritualists, and academics interested in trees in religion/mythology. Given the anthropological breadth which includes beliefs and practices re forests and trees of past cultures of peoples from all over the world, this is a serious tome intended to enlarge knowledge as well as foster innate love of forests and trees.

This is a huge list of generally very short little snippets of mythology or folklore, perhaps several to a page. I find it interesting but not compelling reading. I will finish it eventually. There is information from many diverse sources and cultures.

first published in 1928, this text is a jumbled heap of information, needing a devoted editor to organize and prioritize the items...they simply pile on, reminding me of casaubon's work, in Middlemarch, which also needed sorting...good for reading on a long, tedious journey, or a very rainy, cold day in the mountains, when you need to relax and snooze...interesting, just very badly presented...soporific and intriguing, annoying and interesting, all at once...

Great book on myth, legends and faerie tales of the woods. Very interesting and well reserched