Malaysian Fables, Folk Tales and Legends

by Edwin H. Gomez, Walter W. Skeat

The tales contained in this little volume were taken down from the lips of the Malay peasantry in the twilight of their own tropical jungle, during the progress of the Cambridge Expedition of 1899 through the remoter States of the Malay Peninsula. The tales themselves, as will be obvious to the reader, are the merest gleanings from an extensive harvest-field, and make no pretensions whatever to any completeness or finality. For the most part, indeed, the book is an experiment, the object of which is to ascertain to what extent the native Soother-of-care (as the village storyteller is designated by his Malay audience) may tell his tale in words of his own choosing, without alienating the interest of the Western-[ized] reader. -- Walter Skeat --

There are many fairy-tales and legends known to the Sea Dyaks [Ibans] of the present day. These seem to be handed down, by word of mouth, from generation to generation from ancient times. These stories and legends may be divided into two classes: 1. Those which are purely fabulous and related as such, and are simply meant to interest and amuse, and in these respect resembles the fairy-tales familiar to us all, 2. And those believed to be perfectly true, and to have actually taken place, and are the traditions respecting their gods and preternatural beings. These form, in fact, the mythology of the Dyaks. -- Edwin H Gomez --

Genres: Fiction

207 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Fadillah]

How I wish my country would appreciate our fables , folk tales and legends more. I find it so hard to track this kind of book especially in our national language. Gomez and Skeat did their best in translating those tales but I am sure that western readers will fail to engage it thoroughly. Language barrier can be detected when description over some things not really matching it up. However, this is a real treat from Malaysian Silver Fish. I get to read tales which I don't even knew it exists. Dayak legends though contained a few stories really is a page turner. I rated 3.5 stars for this enjoyable book ;)

[Eleanor]

There are few easily accessible books documenting Malaysian fables, folk tales, and legends out there so I'm glad to see any of them. Sadly it looks like most of the outreach and story collection took place in the 1800s (this is a reprint). Hopefully books like this can encourage people to seek and record theirs and others' heritage/stories in the future (in more than one language).

[Zach Liang-]

one of the fist of the new book collection . an intreting book on now public domain stories from M'sia edited and publshed from Silverfish
full review can be fond here : http://zliangas.blogspot.gr/2014/06/m...