A Dictionary of Superstitions by Iona Opie
This dictionary recognizes how important a part superstition plays in our society and records specific ones, with their evidence, history and evolution. They include divinations, spells, cures, charms, signs and omens, rituals and taboos. Among them is found advice on the signs to observe when contemplating a journey or getting married, the significance of animals, plants, stones, colours, food and drink, the elements and heavenly bodies and the precautions to be taken after a death in the house or during a thunderstorm.
Iona Opie has dedicated her life to collecting and preserving children's rhymes as an art form. I suppose my message in life is 'Nursery rhymes are good for you.' And the sooner you start, the better. I always have one myself every morning. I just open a nursery rhyme book at random. This morning I read:
Taffy was born on a
moonshiney night.
Taffy was born on a
moonshiney night.
His head in a pipskin,
his heels upright.
You see, if you acquire a nursery rhyme-ical attitude, you're not at all put out by life's little bumps and bruises--they just seem funny and entirely normal.
Rosemary Wells says, We live in a time when our language is shrinking. Mother Goose, which represents our language at its most innocent, playful, and profound, is in danger of disappearing completely. Rhymes that have been repeated and refined for forty generations are no longer being taught to children. It is a great honor to work with Iona Opie with the hope of preserving these rhymes for many generations more. Rosemary wells lives in New York.
SKU | GOR001062323 |
ISBN 13 | 9780192115973 |
ISBN 10 | 0192115979 |
Title | A Dictionary of Superstitions |
Author | Iona Opie |
Condition | very good |
Binding type | Hardback |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Year published | 1989-10-26 |
Number of pages | 512 |
Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
Note | This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us |