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Jamaica Anansi stories

By Martha Warren Beckwith
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Mythology, Legends & Folklore

About This Book

A collection of Jamaican folktales gathers short animal and trickster narratives centered on the spider Anansi alongside tales about tigers, monkeys, goats, and birds. Stories account for curious animal traits, stage comic reversals, and probe themes of cunning, justice, and social order through episodic plots and origin motifs. The volume also presents riddles, dance and song materials, and field-recorded music, arranged in thematic sections that compile variants, brief notes, and folkloric context for each tale.

About the Author

Beckwith, Martha Warren portrait

Martha Warren Beckwith

Martha Warren Beckwith was an American folklorist and writer, recognized for her contributions to the study of folklore and cultural narratives. She is best known for her work "Jamaica Anansi Stories," which collects and preserves traditional Jamaican folktales centered around the character Anansi, a trickster spider figure prominent in African and Caribbean folklore. Beckwith's research and writings have played a significant role in documenting and celebrating the rich oral traditions of Jamaica, highlighting the cultural heritage and storytelling practices of the region.

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