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Magical Beasts
Time-Life has once again done an outstanding job putting together a series. From cover to cover they are thoughtful, beautiful books. Illus by Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac and many others. Includes: Myths, Legends, Folk Tales, Mythical Animals, Centaurs, Manticores, Mermecolion, Monkey-God, Chiron, Bestiaries, Basilisk, Unicorns.
143 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1985
4 people are currently reading
476 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Galford
33 books19 followersEllen Galford is a Scottish writer of fiction and nonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 29, 2017
To learn more about the Enchanted World Series and see this full review, please visit www.readrantrockandroll.com
Magical Beasts is the second book in the Enchanted World Series that I've read recently. The book is split into three sections/chapters and covers many different beasts and myths from long ago.
This magical and mysterious volume has stories about beasts including Minotaur, Satyrs, Centaurs, Fomorians, dog-men, flying beasts, and unicorns. The first section covers "Vestiges of the Elder Days" and readers learn about some Greek Mythology.
I found the second section titled "Riders of the Wind" more interesting which highlights flying creatures like the Firebird of Russia and other strange creatures that scholars told about after their travels. It's interesting how some of these false tales formed. This section covers the manticore, the basilisk, and the peryton to name a few.
Chapter three, "Paragon of Purity" was probably my favorite section which covers unicorns and a few other horned creatures. It concludes with a tale about Alexander, the Macedonian King and his mighty horse.
These books contain stunning works of art and once again they steal the show. You can locate the artists in the back of the book and learn about where all these tales originated. I like the way this volume was put together and I think people who like to read fantasy would enjoy it. Some of the stories are strange and the artwork can be explicit at times, but the tales are interesting.
The Enchanted World Series is a book set of 21 volumes and I've been working to complete my set by purchasing a volume here and there. Some of of the volumes are more expensive than others. I recently read Wizards and Witches by Brendan Lehane and you can see that review HERE.
4****
Magical Beasts is the second book in the Enchanted World Series that I've read recently. The book is split into three sections/chapters and covers many different beasts and myths from long ago.
This magical and mysterious volume has stories about beasts including Minotaur, Satyrs, Centaurs, Fomorians, dog-men, flying beasts, and unicorns. The first section covers "Vestiges of the Elder Days" and readers learn about some Greek Mythology.
I found the second section titled "Riders of the Wind" more interesting which highlights flying creatures like the Firebird of Russia and other strange creatures that scholars told about after their travels. It's interesting how some of these false tales formed. This section covers the manticore, the basilisk, and the peryton to name a few.
Chapter three, "Paragon of Purity" was probably my favorite section which covers unicorns and a few other horned creatures. It concludes with a tale about Alexander, the Macedonian King and his mighty horse.
These books contain stunning works of art and once again they steal the show. You can locate the artists in the back of the book and learn about where all these tales originated. I like the way this volume was put together and I think people who like to read fantasy would enjoy it. Some of the stories are strange and the artwork can be explicit at times, but the tales are interesting.
The Enchanted World Series is a book set of 21 volumes and I've been working to complete my set by purchasing a volume here and there. Some of of the volumes are more expensive than others. I recently read Wizards and Witches by Brendan Lehane and you can see that review HERE.
4****
Read
May 21, 2025This series of Time Life books from the 80's were a rare find even back in the day. My mother bought several of these for me at a garage sale about 25 years ago, which was memorable in itself because the gesture was so out of character for her. I spent hours entranced by these surprisingly educational, beautifully illustrated books that revolved around "classic" fantasy themes, mythology (mostly Greek, from what I remember), and folklore. They were "go to" books when my attention span was playing ping pong and really reminded me of everything I found so appealing about the genre.
Then life happened, and somehow, they were relegated to an old closet in the garage, where I completely forgot about them for almost two decades. Haven't given them a re-read yet, but the artwork is incredible and the nostalgia is real. Especially since my mother has passed and I'm packing up the house, this was a special find that I look forward to reading once more.
Then life happened, and somehow, they were relegated to an old closet in the garage, where I completely forgot about them for almost two decades. Haven't given them a re-read yet, but the artwork is incredible and the nostalgia is real. Especially since my mother has passed and I'm packing up the house, this was a special find that I look forward to reading once more.
January 18, 2024
3,5
Fabeltiere - Verzauberte Welten von Time Life
Kurzbeschreibung
Zeugen vergangener Zeiten
Reiter des Windes
Ebenbild der Reinheit
Kurzmeinung
Ich liebe ja Einhörner und das schon lange vor dem Erscheinen des Films "Das letzte Einhorn". Wie schön, dass dem Einhorn ein recht großes Kapitel gewidmet ist, auch wenn mir das meiste darin bereits bekannt war, sogar die meisten Zeichnungen.
Fabeltiere - Verzauberte Welten von Time Life
Kurzbeschreibung
Zeugen vergangener Zeiten
Reiter des Windes
Ebenbild der Reinheit
Kurzmeinung
Ich liebe ja Einhörner und das schon lange vor dem Erscheinen des Films "Das letzte Einhorn". Wie schön, dass dem Einhorn ein recht großes Kapitel gewidmet ist, auch wenn mir das meiste darin bereits bekannt war, sogar die meisten Zeichnungen.
March 20, 2018
The time life people always do an amazing job and how much fun are magical beasts. If you love the mystical grab this one.
Read
January 19, 2016All of the books of the Enchanted World series are fantastic and this is no exception. Beautiful illustrations along with well told stories make this book and the others a very enjoyable experience. My only complaint is that these books don't always say who the artist of the illustrations are. The part on unicorns in this book was especially fascinating.
March 11, 2021
Magical Beasts opens with telling of how early in humanity's existence the world was locked in an Ice Age. Humans feared the animals and worshipped the cave bear, but as time passed man eventually conquered the cave bear and drove it away. Which is what most of these stories represent, mankind’s conquering of the land. Each evil beast whether it be the Minotaur, Manticore, Chimera, or what have you, represents this theme. That even in the unsteady world of nature, and the constant evolving weird mix of animals, man has the power to conquer and dominate. At least that was the theme of the first chapter – “Vestiges of the Elder Days”
With chapter two – “Riders of the Wind” – the exploration shifts to the portentous use of birds – mostly ravens and crows – and what they signify. Birds were often respected, and the bringers of portents for the average person. It also recounts that many flying animals, both mundane and magical, commanded respect for reasons that they were able to escape the mundane world by flight. Pegasus, the roc, firebirds, the phoenix.
Chapter three - Paragon of Purity- focuses on that most respected of magical beasts, the unicorn and his ilk. It comments on the appearance of the horned beast, or a near equivalent, in almost every culture. It symbolized beauty and purity but courage as well because it would never be taken alive. Its cousins included China's ki-lin and the Persian karkadann which personified only gentility or ferocity. All, however, could be tamed by maidens.
With chapter two – “Riders of the Wind” – the exploration shifts to the portentous use of birds – mostly ravens and crows – and what they signify. Birds were often respected, and the bringers of portents for the average person. It also recounts that many flying animals, both mundane and magical, commanded respect for reasons that they were able to escape the mundane world by flight. Pegasus, the roc, firebirds, the phoenix.
Chapter three - Paragon of Purity- focuses on that most respected of magical beasts, the unicorn and his ilk. It comments on the appearance of the horned beast, or a near equivalent, in almost every culture. It symbolized beauty and purity but courage as well because it would never be taken alive. Its cousins included China's ki-lin and the Persian karkadann which personified only gentility or ferocity. All, however, could be tamed by maidens.
June 27, 2019
This series is wonderful and every new book I read is a great journey into fantasy. Magical beasts was focusing on only a few kinds of mythical creatures, but at least exploring stories from many countries. The illustrations are once again what makes these books so enjoyable.
May 30, 2020
As usual the book was beautiful and the legends/ stories were well told. For the first time in this series I have encountered a story recounted for the second time and almost word for word--the story of the wren in this book and the Christmas book. I am surprised that this has not happened more--differents parts of the same legend are told in different books, but not the same part.
March 20, 2012
A series from Time Life Books on myth, superstitions, and legend, brought to life with beautiful illustrations, and written in a fluid like prose that brings to mind a storyteller sitting by a crackling fire sharing his tales.
I remember reading some of the books in this series when I was younger. I had purchased some through a mail order subscription, but didn't complete the collection, although you can still find them on Amazon, Ebay, and the like. YouTube even has a video of the original TV commercial for when the series was first launched. Time Life could have gone the route of writing this in a dry, historical format, but luckily went with a style that plays well with the topics of the series.
From unicorns to manticores, if you are a fan of mythology as I am, this book serves as a great reference and fun read!
I remember reading some of the books in this series when I was younger. I had purchased some through a mail order subscription, but didn't complete the collection, although you can still find them on Amazon, Ebay, and the like. YouTube even has a video of the original TV commercial for when the series was first launched. Time Life could have gone the route of writing this in a dry, historical format, but luckily went with a style that plays well with the topics of the series.
From unicorns to manticores, if you are a fan of mythology as I am, this book serves as a great reference and fun read!
April 17, 2009
My review for all of these books in this series is the same.
Time-Life has once again done an outstanding job putting together a series. From cover to cover they are thoughtful, beautiful books. I'm starting to sound generic, but it's true.
I'm a DK fan, I like white backgrounds and side notes with clear sections for every subject. This series has none of that. What they do have is an old book feel. Timeless artwork, thoroughness, and very well written makes these a must on my occult/paranormal bookshelf at home. I've been collecting the series slowly over several years and still have a few books to go. I refuse to go on amazon and buy them. It's all in the hunt for me. There is no subject they have left untouched. I highly recommend them.
Time-Life has once again done an outstanding job putting together a series. From cover to cover they are thoughtful, beautiful books. I'm starting to sound generic, but it's true.
I'm a DK fan, I like white backgrounds and side notes with clear sections for every subject. This series has none of that. What they do have is an old book feel. Timeless artwork, thoroughness, and very well written makes these a must on my occult/paranormal bookshelf at home. I've been collecting the series slowly over several years and still have a few books to go. I refuse to go on amazon and buy them. It's all in the hunt for me. There is no subject they have left untouched. I highly recommend them.
October 18, 2011
Found this book in a library when I was in my mid-teens and its collection of stories, told well, sumptuous illustrations and diverse selection of beasties truly fired up my imagination. When I found a copy second-hand a few years later I was over-joyed. I highly recommend this book and any others i the series!
October 28, 2013
A series of short articles and stories.
September 30, 2016
These Time Life books are a dream. Just opening and glancing at the pages makes my heart sing with the beauty they contain. :o) I have most of the collection now. Treasured.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews