Snake Prince and Other Stories: Burmese Folk Tales

collected and retold by Edna Ledgard The people of Burma/Myanmar call it Shwe Pyidaw, the Golden Land, their fertile valley cradled in a horseshoe of mountains. When squabbling Western nations vied for control of the newly-mapped country a century ago, the local population had already lived in the mountainous land for over a millenium. Throughout those centuries, the legends and tales rooted in animist religions created a rich tapestry of spirits that underlie the later arrival of Buddhism. "Nat" spirits, dragons, winged lion-dogs, ogres, mythical galon birds, sorceresses and many more populated the land. This volume brings together 25 of the most-loved of these folk tales.

Edna Ledgard was raised in Burma by missionary parents, and educated at Mandalay's American-run mission school for girls. Ledgard remembers the stories of her "Amah," the young Karen woman who watched over her and her brother and sister when they were small. After her father died, Ledgard found a small English primer he had purchased in Rangoon in 1920. It contained several retellings of familiar and loved Burmese legends, and became the inspiration for this collection. Ledgard now lives in Connecticut.

ISBN: 9781566563130
Format: Paperback
Pages: 256
Publisher: Interlink Publishing Group Inc
Published: June 01, 1999

"Two dozen simply told tales capture Burma's ancient culture. A thorough introduction to the country, now called Myanmar, includes the author's childhood remembrances. Organized thematically, many entries have familiar folktale story lines that make this title useful for comparing and contrasting. They're good for reading aloud, and the time line and glossary add valuable details"