Witches, Wizards and Sorcerers

by Jean Menzies

The supernatural figure of the sorcerer, someone with magic powers for both good and evil, features in storytelling and legends all over the world. Wicked Witches and revered Wizards have appeared in fairy tales, legends and myths for thousands of years and continue to inspire contemporary fantasy writers.Witches, Wizards and Myths and Legends is part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, pocket-sized classics bound in real cloth with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover.This lively, carefully chosen collection brings together ancient stories and famous myths, each by a different writer, from a range of cultures and eras. Some of the nineteen stories come from well known names such as Irish poet W. B. Yeats, Andrew Lang and Brothers Grimm as well as some intriguing new discoveries from Poland, Russia, India and much more.

Genres: Mythology, Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy, Classics

200 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Brecht · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leuke selectie aan mythische oude verhalen, helaas veel erg verkort of afgeraffeld. Daarnaast had ik het leuk gevonden als ze de betekenis achter de verhalen wat toegelicht.

[Cally · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a collection of fairy tales featuring witches, wizards, and demons from different cultures across history.

It is interesting from an academic perspective but often dull, due to the literal style of older eras of writing (this happened, and then this happened, and so on). Perhaps because of this repetitive rhythm, the stories are surprisingly similar in tone, despite being from wildly different places and times.

The most engaging story is the last, which is both beautiful and philosophical. A young prince discovers the land of the fairies. When returns to the human realm, he discovers hundreds of years have passed, everyone he knew is long dead, and he begins to age rapidly.

I would recommend this collection if you are interested in fairy tales, the history of literature, or inspiration for your own stories. Otherwise, you might find it a bit of a slog.

That is not to discredit the stories, which built the foundations for the brilliant storytelling we see today.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nicely varied, short and enjoyable taster for the stories we tell involving witches and wizards. It falls short in the style - for example with stories I was familiar with such as baba yaga, or Medea. But overall this was light entertainment around a theme.

[Beth M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun spooky season read. Not all fairy tales are made equal, but there were some good ones here.