The Penguin book of mermaids

Tales of mermaids have captivated people's imaginations for thousands of years, from Odysseus being tempted by the sirens' song to children being mesmerized by the strong-willed Ariel in more modern times. But the legends and lore go much deeper than these well-known examples of merfolk in popular culture. Images and stories of fish-human hybrids have appeared in cultures throughout the centuries and around the globe, including legends from the Pacific Islands, Scotland, and the Middle East. In different cultures, these mysterious and alluring creatures are known by a variety of names, including mermaids, selkies, and water spirits. But despite the time and space between cultures and stories, common themes surrounding merfolk emerge, including gender, sexuality, spirituality, and environmental awareness. Bacchilega and Brown summarize these motifs and provide historical and cultural contexts for the legends themselves (many in translation), tracing their influence over time and in various regions. Readers fascinated by myth and diverse cultures will find much to enjoy and ponder in this gathering of mermaid tales and assessment of how these beings reflect the complexities of human nature.--Patricia Smith Copyright 2010 Booklist

Sonya Taaffe's Lambda-nominated collection of queer and sea-themed fiction, Forget the Sleepless Shores, was published by Lethe Press in 2018.

Contents   Water Deities and Sirens from Olden Times   * Oannes * Kāliya, the Snake * Odysseus and the Sirens * The Tuna (Eel) of Lake Vaihiria   Mermaids and Other Merbeings in Europe   Merfolk in the Waters of Greenland and Iceland * The Marvels of the Waters about Greenland * The Merman   Two Mermaids and a Selkie from the Scottish Highlands * The Mermaid of Kessock * The Grey Selchie of Sule Skerrie * The Mermaid's Grave   A Seal Woman or Maiden of the Sea from Ireland * Tom Moore and the Seal Woman   Dangerous Mermaids in Two Child Ballads * Clark Colven, Child 42A * The Mermaid, Child 289B   A Bavarian Freshwater Merman   * In the Jaws of the Merman.   A Freshwater Mermaid in Grimms' Fairy Tales * The Nixie in the Pond   Estonian Water Spirits * Three Texts (untitled)   Two Greek Mermaids * New Tunes * The Mermaid   Merfolk from the South of Italy * A Mermaid's Story * Cola Pesce * The Sailor and the Mermaid of the Sea   Literary Tales   * Legend of Melusina * Fortunio and the Siren * The Day after the Wedding, from Undine * The Little Mermaid * The Fisherman and His Soul * The Golden Mermaid * A Mermaid's Tears * Abyssus Abyssum Invocat   Merfolk and Water Spirits Across the Globe   African Water Beings   * Yemọja   Merfolk in The Thousand and One Nights * Julnar the Mermaid and Her Son Badar Basim of Persia     A Persian Sea Fairy * The Sea Fairy   Three Khasi Narratives About Water Spirits * About K--, the River Goddess Who Exists in Jaintia Hills * How Water Tied a Covenant with Man and the Divine Nature of Water * About a Puri Enchantment   A Mer-Wife in the Indian Ocean * Shoān, a Nicobar Tale   A Hairy Chinese Mermaid * Mermaids   Mermaids from Japan   * The Mermaid * Yao Bikuni   Water Spirits of the Philippines * The Mermaid Queen * The Litao and Serena * The American and the Sirena of Amburayan * A Mermaid in Mabini * Mermaid   A Mer-Wife in Northern Australia * Karukayn (Mermaids)   A Chamorro Girl Becomes a Mermaid * Sirena   The Feejee Mermaid Hoax * The Mermaid   Mermaids and Mo'o of Hawai'i * The Mermaid of Honokawailani Pond                                           * Kalamainuʻu, the Moʻo who Seduced Punaʻaikoaʻe   Water Beings of South America * The Fisherman's Water-jug and Potato * Oiára, The Water-Maidens * The Pincoya * The Mermaids   African Water Spirits in the Caribbean * Ti Jeanne * Maman Dlo's Gift   Water Beings of Indigenous North America * The Horned Serpent Runs Away with a Girl who is Rescued by the Thunderer * Of the Woman Who Loved a Serpent That Lived in a Lake * How Two Girls Were Changed into Water-Serpents * Ne Hwas, the Mermaid * Legend of the Fish Women (Mermaids) * The Woman Who Married a Merman Excerpted from The Penguin Book of Mermaids by Cristina Bacchilega All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.